tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37812853353685648852024-03-27T18:39:38.731-04:00Crazy Crochetin' MamaA knitting/crochet pattern designer, her four kids, her furbabies, and their farm.Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-2181690882189492022020-12-15T13:37:00.159-05:002021-03-06T14:56:45.617-05:00Pattern: Full-Size Christmas Stocking<script src="https://payhip.com/payhip.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var PayhipConfig = {
enableCart: true
};
</script>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Good morning, everyone! I hope that you are having a merry holiday
season. As Christmas approaches here, the kids and I have been pulling
out Christmas decorations and decking the halls, so to speak. We found a
bit of an unhappy surprise when I was unpacking our garlands and stockings.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>We had a mouse.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Being on a farm and being surrounded by fields that are harvested every
October and November, having a mouse in the house was nothing new. But
I've never had one get into our Christmas decorations before. The lid of
the plastic tub they were in didn't get closed well the year before, and well,
mice can squeeze into the darnedest places.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
So, I had to set to work crocheting new stockings for the kids and
myself. This is one of my first written patterns, but I thought I would
share it here today since I am using it to make new stockings for everyone.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
As always, the pattern is available for free down below, but if you want to
purchase the ad-free version, click on the links below the pattern to purchase
your very own PDF version of the pattern.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
<div id="amzn-assoc-ad-7e3eabf8-c40a-4d8b-8e15-26fc44cf22cf"></div>
<script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=7e3eabf8-c40a-4d8b-8e15-26fc44cf22cf"></script>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">LARGE CROCHET CHRISTMAS STOCKING </h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0byifuHrdi4Qoff18PDagpmleWAhgUBvcNdu1SoUbwSJnG9W9XiFFkZiUfbuW7vJ1qRK7AFxAoT2UOmuX2JiX0T0peXesIL4O9xNrU3rZi3HKOpNSmmq2x5J8BG2f1HAd-CLfKE9S42q/s430/Large+Christmas+Stocking.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="269" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0byifuHrdi4Qoff18PDagpmleWAhgUBvcNdu1SoUbwSJnG9W9XiFFkZiUfbuW7vJ1qRK7AFxAoT2UOmuX2JiX0T0peXesIL4O9xNrU3rZi3HKOpNSmmq2x5J8BG2f1HAd-CLfKE9S42q/s320/Large+Christmas+Stocking.png" /></a>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Size: </b>Stocking is approximately 6 inches wide and approximately 15
inches long once completed.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Hook:</b> 5.00 mm (H) hook</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Yarn:</b> 270 yards of any light #4 weight yarn (Red Heart Super
Saver, Caron Simply Soft, or something similar), </span><span style="font-family: "Liberation Serif", serif;">100% Acrylic</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;">Stitch Knowledge Needed:</span>
</h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>CH</b> – Chain</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>ST </b>– Stitch</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>SL ST</b> – Slip Stitch</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>DC</b> – Double Crochet</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>DC2TOG</b> – Double Crochet 2 Together</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;">Special Stitches:</span>
</h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>DC2TOG:</b> YO, Insert hook into first stitch, YO and pull through
stitch. YO and pull through two loops on hook. YO, Insert hook into second
stitch, YO and pull through stitch. YO and pull through two loops on hook.
YO again and pull through all remaining loops on hook.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<script async="" src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8180765844977802" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-layout="in-article" data-ad-slot="6544244312" style="display: block; text-align: center;"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Liberation Serif", serif;">Pattern</span>
</h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b><i>Starting at the toe:</i></b></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Chain 4. Sl st ends together to form a ring. Chain 2.</b></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 1:</b> Crochet 10 DC into center of ring. Sl st round closed.
Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 2:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2, and DCx2 in each
stitch around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 3:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2, DC in next stitch.
*DCx2 in the following stitch, DC in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Sl
st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 4:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2, DC in next two
stitches. *DCx2 in the following stitch. DC in the next two stitches.
Repeat from * around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 5:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2. (42 stitches)</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 6:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 7:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 8:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 9:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 10:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 11:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 12:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 13:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 14:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 15:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 16:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 17:</b> DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 18: </b>DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 19: </b>DC in first stitch at base of Chain 2. DC in each stitch
around. Sl st round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div> <div id="amzn-assoc-ad-076082db-5f20-4dfb-b2ea-25e8520d9381"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=076082db-5f20-4dfb-b2ea-25e8520d9381"></script> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b><i>Heel:</i></b></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Row 20:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each of the next 17
stitches. Chain 2 and TURN your work.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Row 21:</b> DC2tog (stitch at base of Chain 2 and next stitch), DC
across until you have two stitches left. DC2tog those two stitches. Chain
2 and TURN your work.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Row 22:</b> DC2tog (stitch at base of Chain 2 and next stitch), DC
across until you have two stitches left. DC2tog those two stitches. Chain
2 and TURN your work.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Row 23:</b> DC2tog (stitch at base of Chain 2 and next stitch), DC
across until you have two stitches left. DC2tog those two stitches. Chain
2 and TURN your work.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Row 24:</b> DC2tog (stitch at base of Chain 2 and next stitch), DC
across until you have two stitches left. DC2tog those two stitches. Chain
2 and TURN your work.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Row 25:</b> DC2tog (stitch at base of Chain 2 and next stitch), DC
across until you have two stitches left. DC2tog those two stitches. Chain
2 and TURN your work.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Row 26:</b> DC2tog (including stitch at base of Chain 2) across.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<script async="" src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8180765844977802" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-layout="in-article" data-ad-slot="6544244312" style="display: block; text-align: center;"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b><i>Leg:</i></b></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 27:</b> Chain 2. Picking up stitches around the heel, DC around
the edge of the heel. DC2tog where heel and Round 19 meet, then DC in each
stitch around the top edge of the foot section until you reach the heel
join again. DC2tog to connect the heel and foot. DC up the side of the
heel and across the top. (42 stitches total, not including the Chain 2.)
Sl st the round closed. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 28:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 29:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 30:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 31:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 32:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 33:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 34:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 35:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 36:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 37:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 38:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 39:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 40:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 41:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 42:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 43:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 44:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div> <div id="amzn-assoc-ad-a823989e-8012-45de-88e8-b27d0b21c029"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=a823989e-8012-45de-88e8-b27d0b21c029"></script> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b><i>** Lay stocking flat and find the two stitches that make up the back
(calf-side) of the stocking. Slip stitch to those two stitches, chain
12-14 stitches and slip stitch into the same stitch to create a
hanging loop. Chain 2. (Attach new color with Chain 2 if you want the
cuff to be a different color.</i></b></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 45:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 46:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 47:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 48:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 49:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b>Round 50:</b> DC in stitch at base of Chain 2 and in each stitch
around. Sl st to close round. Chain 2.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><b><i>Fasten off and weave in ends. Fold over cuff to expose the chain of
12-14 stitches to hang your stocking.</i></b></span>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<script async="" src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8180765844977802" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-layout="in-article" data-ad-slot="6544244312" style="display: block; text-align: center;"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<div>
<p>
<b><i> </i></b>
</p>
<p>
If you are interested in purchasing an ad-free PDF copy of this pattern,
please use one of the links below. I thank you for your support.
</p>
<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/crazycrochetinmama/listing/754221969/easy-crochet-christmas-stocking-pattern?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1615059438208" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHPdiTcl6uUzD4HpyedBwSd5-PRj5eIzWy0_Zn_7fM8vtDtK5lGlmYn22gdoel2uWYKKAQiZGa0qpesZQJLxmq3HDkxF_GWlxc6ycG_QNQg-LnFAX947BapgGUacyVrKEdNn_tFr7vYGp/s200/Etsy+Button.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;">
<script src="https://gumroad.com/js/gumroad.js"></script>
<a class="gumroad-button" href="https://gum.co/dykCR" target="_blank">Purchase on Gumroad</a>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;">
<a class="payhip-add-to-cart-button" data-product="ZXmd" data-theme="blue" href="https://payhip.com/b/ZXmd">Purchase on Payhip</a>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>
Once again, I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season, even with
COVID-19. Remember to love one another this holiday season, and stay
safe.
</p>
<p></p>
<div id="amzn-assoc-ad-1656f357-4910-49f7-aa35-ff54b7845c10"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=1656f357-4910-49f7-aa35-ff54b7845c10"></script>
</div>
Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-53069608087278711602020-09-15T13:40:00.085-04:002021-03-08T09:19:58.302-05:00Pattern: Rectangle Double-V Panel Shawl<script src="https://payhip.com/payhip.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var PayhipConfig = {
enableCart: true
};
</script>
<p>
Good morning, everyone! It's a beautiful day here in eastern North
Carolina. It's still warm, but it's not blazing hot. The sun is
out, the garden is luscious and full of fruits and vegetables, and the animals
are all happy.
</p>
<p>And I'm inside canning more potatoes. Hah!</p>
<p>
Since I am sitting here watching the pressure canner, I thought I would take a
minute and share one of my more recent patterns. With the cool weather
coming, this pattern is a definite must-make as I can wrap it around my
shoulders or neck and get my chores done here on the farm.
</p>
<p>
As always, the pattern is available for free down below, but if you want to
purchase the ad-free version, click on the links below the pattern to purchase
your very own PDF version of the pattern.
</p>
<p></p><div id="amzn-assoc-ad-7e3eabf8-c40a-4d8b-8e15-26fc44cf22cf"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=7e3eabf8-c40a-4d8b-8e15-26fc44cf22cf"></script><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>RECTANGLE DOUBLE-V PANEL SHAWL</b></h2>
<p>
<b>Size:</b> Finished shawl is approximately 25 inches wide and approximately
68 inches long once<br /> completed.
</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIRjhb46KsjnTxiw7MpkT8y_szuoYJFhHQ9b8tbJXS_aXz9dzkoI7uiH5AhFzz_FnGcW7X7KIKsgloiQE1RHUsI-vvk4XztqqbKl4ON_Qus0kDs8XqIz1Wu0322yIWKS_G6E_m4tArkfJ/s2048/20200924_171301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1844" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIRjhb46KsjnTxiw7MpkT8y_szuoYJFhHQ9b8tbJXS_aXz9dzkoI7uiH5AhFzz_FnGcW7X7KIKsgloiQE1RHUsI-vvk4XztqqbKl4ON_Qus0kDs8XqIz1Wu0322yIWKS_G6E_m4tArkfJ/s320/20200924_171301.jpg" /></a></div>Materials</h3>
<p><b>Hook:</b> 6.5 mm (K) hook</p>
<p>
<b>Yarn:</b> 3 skeins of Red Heart Super Saver Ombre, 100% Acrylic, #4 Weight
Yarn
</p>
<p><b>Color:</b> Deep Teal</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Stitch Knowledge Needed:</h3>
<p><b>CH</b> – Chain</p>
<p><b>ST</b> – Stitch</p>
<p><b>FDC</b> – Foundation Chain Double Crochet</p>
<p><b>DC</b> – Double Crochet</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Special Stitches:</h3>
<p>
<b>FDC -</b> Make a slip knot and place your yarn on your
hook. Chain 4. Yarn over and insert hook through the center of the
first chain (4th chain from the hook), picking up 2 loops of the first
chain. Yarn over and pull the yarn through the first chain. You
should have 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over again and pull through one
loop on your hook. Yarn over and drawn through the next two loops.
Yarn over once more and draw through the last 2 loops on hook. To
continue working, start each repetition by first yarning over, then insert
your hook through the base stitch of the previous FDC.
</p>
<script async="" src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8180765844977802" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-layout="in-article" data-ad-slot="6544244312" style="display: block; text-align: center;"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Pattern:</h2>
<p><b>Row 1: </b> FDC for 170 sts.</p>
<p>
<b>Row 2:</b> Ch 1 and turn. DC into st at base of ch and in each st
across.
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Repeat previous row 6 more times for a total of 8 rows of DC (including
foundation row).</i></b>
</p>
<p>
<b>Row 9:</b> Ch 1 and turn. DC into st at base of ch 1. Skip next
st, DC 2 times in following st. (Skip 1, 2 DC in next st). Repeat
across. Two DC in final st.
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Repeat previous row 7 times for a total of 8 rows of Double V Stitch.</i></b>
</p>
<p><b>Row 17: </b> Repeat Row 2 eight times.</p>
<p>
<b><i>Repeat the pattern of 8 rows of DC, 8 rows of Double V Stitch, and 8 rows
of DC one more time to achieve the width of the shawl in the above photo,
or you can repeat it two more times to make it wider.</i></b>
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Bind off and weave in ends.</i></b>
</p>
<p>
<i>** Note: It took a little over two skeins of Red Heart Super Saver
Ombre to complete this project with two repeats, but I used a hook size
larger than the yarn called for, and I crochet loosely. You may use
less yarn for your project if you only do two repeats and crochet tighter
with a smaller hook.</i>
</p>
<p>
If you are interested in purchasing an ad-free PDF copy of this pattern,
please use one of the links below. I thank you for your support.
</p>
<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 684px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 227px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/crazycrochetinmama/listing/878846631/easy-rectangle-double-v-panel-shawl-pdf?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1615212673979" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHPdiTcl6uUzD4HpyedBwSd5-PRj5eIzWy0_Zn_7fM8vtDtK5lGlmYn22gdoel2uWYKKAQiZGa0qpesZQJLxmq3HDkxF_GWlxc6ycG_QNQg-LnFAX947BapgGUacyVrKEdNn_tFr7vYGp/s200/Etsy+Button.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 225px;"><script src="https://gumroad.com/js/gumroad.js"></script>
<a class="gumroad-button" href="https://gum.co/iQapW" target="_blank">Buy from Gumroad</a></td>
<td style="width: 226px;"><a class="payhip-add-to-cart-button" data-product="OGDd" data-theme="blue" href="https://payhip.com/b/OGDd">Buy from Payhip</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>
Thank you for stopping in today. I hope that you enjoy this shawl
pattern and that it keeps you warm this winter. As always, stay safe and
protect yourself from COVID.
</p>
<p></p><div id="amzn-assoc-ad-c7093f4f-4df6-44fa-9ded-8103e6eb1c11"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=c7093f4f-4df6-44fa-9ded-8103e6eb1c11"></script><p></p>
<p><br /></p>
Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-23252747949446379092020-08-15T13:38:00.090-04:002021-03-08T08:02:32.010-05:00Pattern: Quick Puff Stitch Scarf<script src="https://payhip.com/payhip.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var PayhipConfig = {
enableCart: true
};
</script>
<p>
Good morning, my crafty friends. Although we are in our hottest days of
the year here in eastern North Carolina, I am already thinking ahead to the
cold days of winter. Our fall season starts here in a little over a
month, but it doesn't get sufficiently cold for us until January.
</p>
<p>
But I like to be prepared. My kids are always a) losing their hats,
scarves, and gloves or b) they get them so dirty that I need multiple sets so
I can wash one set while they wear another. Either way, I try to keep a
lot of different hats, scarves, and mittens/gloves on hand.
</p>
<p>
I wrote this pattern up a while back, but with it being so hot and being so
busy with the garden and canning, I haven't been able to test-crochet it until
recently.
</p>
<p>
As always, the pattern is available for free down below, but if you want
to purchase the ad-free version, click on the links below the pattern to
purchase your very own PDF version of the pattern.
</p>
<p></p><div id="amzn-assoc-ad-076082db-5f20-4dfb-b2ea-25e8520d9381"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=076082db-5f20-4dfb-b2ea-25e8520d9381"></script><p></p>
<h2 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: left; widows: 2;">
QUICK PUFF STITCH SCARF
</h2>
<h3 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: left; widows: 2;">
<br />
</h3>
<h3 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: left; widows: 2;">
Materials Needed:
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKm5pIiDKCH1cye7K3RGQWYNjaeYTMs5uRZZA1jOxw7rWVBDs-783k5MJQjoA5Q0dvEl4FhDoaoKGWHDT6UTmCLOb62nnRiUpl-YKikdKxymIH14uBDyMq_CM7p7uDeg6o57HG7Ay8MsGw/s2048/20191123_092036.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1758" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKm5pIiDKCH1cye7K3RGQWYNjaeYTMs5uRZZA1jOxw7rWVBDs-783k5MJQjoA5Q0dvEl4FhDoaoKGWHDT6UTmCLOb62nnRiUpl-YKikdKxymIH14uBDyMq_CM7p7uDeg6o57HG7Ay8MsGw/s320/20191123_092036.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<br />
</h3>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Worsted Weight (#4) Yarn
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
H- Hook (5 mm)
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
Stitches:
</h3>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>HDC</b> – Half Double Crochet
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Puff Stitch</b>
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Ch</b> - Chain
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>DC</b> – Double Crochet
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
Special Stitches:
</h3>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Foundation HDC:</b> Chain 2. YO and insert hook into the first
chain/2nd chain from the hook. YO and pull up a loop. You should
have three loops on your hook. YO and pull through the first loop
only. This creates your “chain” stitch. YO and pull through the
remaining loops on your hook. To make the next stitch (and all remaining
stitches), YO and insert hook into the “chain” stitch you created in your
previous HDC stitch. YO and pull up a loop. You should have three loops
on your hook. YO and pull through the first loop only, then YO and pull
through the remaining three loops on your hook.
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Puff Stitch:</b> Yarn over and insert the hook into the stitch where
you are creating your puff stitch. Yarn over again and draw through. There
will be three loops on the hook. Repeat four more times. Each time adds
2 more loops to the hook. There will be 11 loops on the hook for a 5 hdc puff
stitch. Yarn over and pull through all loops on the hook.
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<script async="" src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8180765844977802" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-layout="in-article" data-ad-slot="6544244312" style="display: block; text-align: center;"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<h2 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
Pattern
</h2>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
<i>** This pattern is worked along the length of the scarf, not the width.</i>
</div>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Row 1:</b> Foundation Chain HDC 199 stitches. (or any odd number of
stitches to attain length of desired scarf. Approximately 60 inches.)
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Row 2: </b> Chain 3 (Counts as first DC and a chain 1). Skip
first stitch. Puff stitch in second stitch from turning chain.
[Chain 1. Skip one stitch and puff stitch in the next.] Repeat [ ]
until two stitches from the end. Skip the next to last stitch and DC in
the last stitch. Chain 1 and turn.
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Row 3: </b> Starting with the stitch at the base of the turning chain,
HDC in every stitch across full length of scarf. Chain 1 and turn.
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRJQzhN56J4hZIw7j9ozAzj8IOUrW0dGAYTDd6xQHwa2YPj01ruRnIoC6k1uFBFkEwY7VlK_QQ5rSEvm9YTj9hag3OvwBzCmFNYK5VYroJKEFlvr9d2vwfVF656aLitYE98mXuQZN05JB/s2048/20191123_092055.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRJQzhN56J4hZIw7j9ozAzj8IOUrW0dGAYTDd6xQHwa2YPj01ruRnIoC6k1uFBFkEwY7VlK_QQ5rSEvm9YTj9hag3OvwBzCmFNYK5VYroJKEFlvr9d2vwfVF656aLitYE98mXuQZN05JB/s320/20191123_092055.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<b>Rows 4 – 5:</b> Repeat Row 3.
<p></p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Row 6:</b> Repeat Row 2.
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Rows 7 – 11:</b> Repeat Row 3.<br />
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Row 12:</b> Repeat Row 2.
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Rows 13 – 15:</b> Repeat Row 3
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Row 16:</b> Repeat Row 2
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Row 17: </b> Repeat Row 3.
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i>Fasten off and weave in ends.</i></b>
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p>
If you are interested in purchasing an ad-free PDF copy of this pattern,
please use one of the links below. I thank you for your support.
</p>
<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 684px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 227px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/crazycrochetinmama/listing/742237012/quick-puff-stitch-scarf-crochet-pattern?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1615208137468" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHPdiTcl6uUzD4HpyedBwSd5-PRj5eIzWy0_Zn_7fM8vtDtK5lGlmYn22gdoel2uWYKKAQiZGa0qpesZQJLxmq3HDkxF_GWlxc6ycG_QNQg-LnFAX947BapgGUacyVrKEdNn_tFr7vYGp/s200/Etsy+Button.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 225px;"><script src="https://gumroad.com/js/gumroad.js"></script>
<a class="gumroad-button" href="https://gum.co/mxItb" target="_blank">Buy from Gumroad</a></td>
<td style="width: 226px;"><a class="payhip-add-to-cart-button" data-product="v3Ed" data-theme="blue" href="https://payhip.com/b/v3Ed">Buy from Payhip</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>
I hope that you enjoy crocheting this pattern, and I hope that the scarf you
make keeps you plenty warm in the cooler days to come. Have a great
week, everyone, and stay safe as you go about your day.
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div id="amzn-assoc-ad-1656f357-4910-49f7-aa35-ff54b7845c10"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=1656f357-4910-49f7-aa35-ff54b7845c10"></script>
<p></p>
Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-20621537839448687102020-07-15T10:45:00.109-04:002021-03-05T11:35:08.605-05:00Pattern: Sammy's Ridged Crochet Scarf<script src="https://payhip.com/payhip.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<p>
Good morning, beautiful people! Even though summer is in full swing and
it is hot enough to fry an egg on the hood of my truck, I am still thinking
ahead to the upcoming winter. Although we don't get snow (usually), it
does get cold. And I have four kids who always need hats, scarves, and
gloves to wear.
</p>
<p>
Sammy is in dire need of a new hat and scarf this year, which is why I sat
down while the pressure canner was going and wrote up a new pattern. The
stitch looks complicated in the finished item photo, but I promise that it
isn't. It works up in a repeat, so it is easy to memorize.
</p>
<p>
As always, the pattern is available for free down below, but if you want to
purchase the ad-free version, click on the links below the pattern to purchase
your very own PDF version of the pattern.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYF043NouxNASQv3EsXHnMUp7RCUZ2r2icxbHhw49NXNbTTwIekDwJs14aoQsgBen96I41tglRmT82c0RjCZCCqEsUI2CtOLprBx4nBC_nlkfaN_frp-_D7VmdiUS_q3eceuHGGxnyBTB/s2048/Sammy%2527s+Scarf+2.jpg"
style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
border="0"
data-original-height="1589"
data-original-width="2048"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYF043NouxNASQv3EsXHnMUp7RCUZ2r2icxbHhw49NXNbTTwIekDwJs14aoQsgBen96I41tglRmT82c0RjCZCCqEsUI2CtOLprBx4nBC_nlkfaN_frp-_D7VmdiUS_q3eceuHGGxnyBTB/s320/Sammy%2527s+Scarf+2.jpg"
width="320"
/></a>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Sammy's Ridged Scarf</h2>
<p>
<b>Size:</b> Scarf is approximately 6 inches wide and approximately 65 inches
long (not including fringe) once completed.
</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Materials Needed:</b></h3>
<p><b>Hook:</b> 4.25 mm (G) hook</p>
<p>
<b>Yarn:</b> 590 yards (1 Cake) Lionbrand Mandala Cake, 100% Acrylic, #3
Weight Yarn
</p>
<p><b>Color:</b> Spirit</p>
<p><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Stitch Knowledge Needed:</h3>
<p>CH – Chain</p>
<p>ST – Stitch</p>
<p>SC – Single Crochet</p>
<p>DC – Double Crochet</p>
<p>FPTC – Front Post Treble Crochet</p>
<p> <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:block; text-align:center;"
data-ad-layout="in-article"
data-ad-format="fluid"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-8180765844977802"
data-ad-slot="6544244312"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script> </p>
<p><b>Special Stitches:</b></p>
<p>
FPTC = YO, YO, Insert Hook from Front to Back, between the posts of last and
next sts; bring hook around back of post of the next st and to the
front. YO, Draw up a loop around the post, YO again and draw through two
loops on hook, YO and pull through two loops on hook, and YO and pull through
last two loops on hook. Do not work the stitch behind the FPTC.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIUBm7WCLx5t1AM6kx_VsqR7mSmlbCOD7kHghlnNgoFxGZIjMmfVt5B02oEIFGF2vqxjcGk9pWDA1N2LbmBHu40nQ2YDh8Ntxfoitcc72ZYAjaUskUELv1VPD64hKf3j8_tYSB78acmUl/s2048/Sammy%2527s+Scarf+1.jpg"
style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"
><img
border="0"
data-original-height="1489"
data-original-width="2048"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIUBm7WCLx5t1AM6kx_VsqR7mSmlbCOD7kHghlnNgoFxGZIjMmfVt5B02oEIFGF2vqxjcGk9pWDA1N2LbmBHu40nQ2YDh8Ntxfoitcc72ZYAjaUskUELv1VPD64hKf3j8_tYSB78acmUl/s320/Sammy%2527s+Scarf+1.jpg"
width="320"
/></a>
</div>
<br />
<p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Pattern:</h3>
<p><b>Chain 31. (An odd number of sts + 2)</b></p>
<p>
<b>Row 1:</b> 1 DC in 4th chain from hook. Continue to DC in every chain until
the end of the row. Turn your work.
</p>
<p>
<b>Row 2:</b> Ch 1. Skip the first stitch. SC in every stitch to end of row.
SC in top of turning chain. Turn your work.
</p>
<p>
<b>Row 3:</b> Ch 3. Skip the first stitch. * For next stitch, reach below the
SC to the DC row below. FPTC around the DC post. DC in the following SC.
Repeat from the * to end of row. DC in the turning chain. Turn your work.
</p>
<p><b>Row 4:</b> Repeat Row 2.</p>
<p>
<b>Row 5:</b> Ch 3. Skip the first stitch. * DC in the next SC. For the
following SC, FPTC around the DC of the row below the SC. Repeat from the * to
end of row. For last two stitches, DC in next to last stitch, then FPTC around
the turning chain of the DC row below the SC.
</p>
<p><b>Repeat Rows 2-5 until scarf is the desired length.</b></p>
<div><b>Bind off and weave in ends.</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
<p>
To purchase an ad-free version of this pattern, please visit my shops below:
</p>
<p> </p>
<table
border="0"
style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%;"
>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a
href="https://www.etsy.com/crazycrochetinmama/listing/730907464/sammys-ridged-crochet-scarf-pattern-pdf?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1614892088402"
style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"
target="_blank"
><img
alt=""
border="0"
data-original-height="100"
data-original-width="250"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHPdiTcl6uUzD4HpyedBwSd5-PRj5eIzWy0_Zn_7fM8vtDtK5lGlmYn22gdoel2uWYKKAQiZGa0qpesZQJLxmq3HDkxF_GWlxc6ycG_QNQg-LnFAX947BapgGUacyVrKEdNn_tFr7vYGp/s200/Etsy+Button.jpg"
width="200"
/></a>
</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;">
<script src="https://gumroad.com/js/gumroad.js"></script>
<a class="gumroad-button" href="https://gum.co/KBTOlH"
>Buy on Gumroad</a
>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;">
<a
class="payhip-buy-button"
data-product="k38B"
data-theme="blue"
href="https://payhip.com/b/k38B"
>Buy on Payhip</a
>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
</div>
<div>
I hope everyone is having a blessed day, and happy knitting/crocheting!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
<div id="amzn-assoc-ad-c7093f4f-4df6-44fa-9ded-8103e6eb1c11"></div>
<script
async=""
src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=c7093f4f-4df6-44fa-9ded-8103e6eb1c11"
></script>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-68562319176046433882020-07-01T11:35:00.005-04:002021-02-25T08:49:50.335-05:00Crazy Last Few Days<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EdUUXSdb0xuqGvUJKzelEOJiB9W69ViH7id6T228OnICpUdxrMGDJm7iyxnNmCP4Gbehg9eQPTUGQSBmskrf6Ncva_UNkNkMNXknTcODT-zYvj4LD9WYxPrXQ74MaaWKhEcDdsLeliBg/s4128/20200630_180449%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Garden Sans Weeds - Grindle Creek Homestead - #garden2020 #tomatoes #abundance" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EdUUXSdb0xuqGvUJKzelEOJiB9W69ViH7id6T228OnICpUdxrMGDJm7iyxnNmCP4Gbehg9eQPTUGQSBmskrf6Ncva_UNkNkMNXknTcODT-zYvj4LD9WYxPrXQ74MaaWKhEcDdsLeliBg/w240-h320/20200630_180449%25280%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Wow, I hadn't realized that it had been three days since my last post. The last few days have been busy and a little hectic.</span></div></div>
<p>The garden is producing wonderfully this year.</p>
<p>The green beans, squash, zucchini, and cucumbers are producing in abundance.</p>
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NwhNv8HEH3HwCu8N5DyC_rCw2Y2FftpHvaZzz25N9Io_vuyw-UCznV7WYZC2SL-PwYYOm-l4OdY-bV6mscs6An3RYLDq0hSMdS_T9tt1m4wWjSG5trThtmH5PhCEaVrQHIFJRN1bzxsZ/s4128/20200629_150238.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NwhNv8HEH3HwCu8N5DyC_rCw2Y2FftpHvaZzz25N9Io_vuyw-UCznV7WYZC2SL-PwYYOm-l4OdY-bV6mscs6An3RYLDq0hSMdS_T9tt1m4wWjSG5trThtmH5PhCEaVrQHIFJRN1bzxsZ/w150-h200/20200629_150238.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>The squash and zucchini have all been pre-battered and frozen as chips for frying because that is the only way I can get my kids to eat those two vegetables. If they are still producing when I have filled up their assigned basket in my freezer, the excess will be going to the market first, and then the local food bank or a food kitchen afterwards. Unfortunately, I did not get any pictures of the battering and freezing process as my hands were gunked up with batter and my youngest couldn't figure out how to use my camera on my phone. LOL<p></p>
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoyUV5yTqHiuJeNbKc_3yM3KCz3309s0CD3jtX8JGYzVfYgBXzpJbZdHjVkuZ5n0WhK_J2jx0FD4uiU9p6VHO_lecW2iOotnklVj2MDj5Vfze-Ea1XgmJbqRuHO2cZWuhzE9mAlI-b5h5/s4128/20200629_150232.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoyUV5yTqHiuJeNbKc_3yM3KCz3309s0CD3jtX8JGYzVfYgBXzpJbZdHjVkuZ5n0WhK_J2jx0FD4uiU9p6VHO_lecW2iOotnklVj2MDj5Vfze-Ea1XgmJbqRuHO2cZWuhzE9mAlI-b5h5/w150-h200/20200629_150232.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>The green beans are coming off like crazy. I have put up 19 quarts so far, but I need about 50 qts to feed my family until beans are coming off again next year, so I won't be sending any to the market just yet. My Daddy, however, has several bushels that he will be taking to the market this Saturday, so if you need some, please stop by Futrell's Homegrown at the Pitt County Farmer's Market on County Home Road in Greenville.<p></p>
<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTg6CEhyphenhyphenue2oQhOMZ9C5uPdqSa2kvr5jh0qz8wjng_pXnfijZSuKJ_Nigb9bUU76T97IlErNC64eFafTWqnVnxQ6i4jbDCsfmFDl3Cs84cT_dPdKMkATwZg3McmfHJLYLlLz1libnaPLZ0/s4128/20200629_150337.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTg6CEhyphenhyphenue2oQhOMZ9C5uPdqSa2kvr5jh0qz8wjng_pXnfijZSuKJ_Nigb9bUU76T97IlErNC64eFafTWqnVnxQ6i4jbDCsfmFDl3Cs84cT_dPdKMkATwZg3McmfHJLYLlLz1libnaPLZ0/w200-h150/20200629_150337.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>And the cucumbers. Sweet Jesus, the cucumbers. They are coming out our ears this year. I have two batches of sweet pickles in the brine at the moment, and I have a batch of cinnamon pickles on its last day of soaking that will need to be canned up soon. And my Daddy has already taken about 10 bushels of cucumbers to the market, and there are still more coming.<p></p>
<br /><p><br /></p>
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu4jvzi3D7c5t9pFjYEe0HZqDfgk3mebCernaFjQk569fGT__vc-l9iTJxmmKrcevi84zpqyaRuIOLa5-xvTIEAsfg9U0tkjkDivuRWiiS6Rgyu6PNCLjm2X22j8smhR4xSfgWqpDitoS/s4128/20200629_150300.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu4jvzi3D7c5t9pFjYEe0HZqDfgk3mebCernaFjQk569fGT__vc-l9iTJxmmKrcevi84zpqyaRuIOLa5-xvTIEAsfg9U0tkjkDivuRWiiS6Rgyu6PNCLjm2X22j8smhR4xSfgWqpDitoS/w200-h150/20200629_150300.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The Red Cinnamon pickles are for my youngest son and myself. They are one of our favorite pickles, and it's a small batch. The sweet pickles are a new treat, but I'm not sure if anyone will like them yet, so if the kids decide they don't want them, I will can them up and send them to the market for my Dad to sell.<br /><p></p>
<p>But the week has been spent processing food and either freezing it, dehydrating it, or preparing it for the canner.</p>
<p>So, crazy busy week. How has your week been?<script type="text/javascript" src="http://classic.avantlink.com/affiliate_app_confirm.php?mode=js&authResponse=8cf9d5e4aeaf19b66d9baa33413b94b41f0f5351"></script></p>Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-31695425006270472542020-06-27T11:31:00.006-04:002021-02-18T08:08:44.387-05:00New Babies on the Homestead<p>We have new babies on the homestead! We've been incubating a massive guinea nest of eggs since the end of May. There were 52 eggs in the nest when we found it, and I didn't know how old they were. I didn't even know if they had been sat on recently.</p>
<p>But, I had a new incubator, and I wanted to give it a try, so the kids and I gathered up all 52 eggs, brushed away the debris on them, and got them going in the incubator.</p>
<p>It was touch and go for a while. On our first candling, we went from 52 eggs to 38. Then on the second we went from 38 eggs to 31 eggs.</p>
<p>I was beginning to lose hope, feeling like I was doing something wrong or that I hadn't gotten to the nest in time.</p>
<p>Then on June 24th, they started hatching.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIApjEVHxVDsA-ywpm_CFd0pkk8A9_fDua-yJBL3kDQPiNhEQwW861EtdPcr4k-_nW_ccehIDR-1skZkZcNWsrJqhwLhPQj0Gp96R_pe0CLIc7nQn406PyndFepSNoDxzOYEeXWSHrqT5h/s4128/20200623_163745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="New Babies on the Homestead - Grindle Creek Homestead - #guineas #incubator #guineakeets" border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIApjEVHxVDsA-ywpm_CFd0pkk8A9_fDua-yJBL3kDQPiNhEQwW861EtdPcr4k-_nW_ccehIDR-1skZkZcNWsrJqhwLhPQj0Gp96R_pe0CLIc7nQn406PyndFepSNoDxzOYEeXWSHrqT5h/w320-h240/20200623_163745.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I let them stay in the incubator until everyone had hatched. 30 out of 31 eggs hatched off. All but two were done in the first day, but they were lagging behind. They finally made their way out the second day, but they weren't right.</p>
<p>They didn't make it past their first day, sadly.</p>
<p>I moved the rest of the babies out into a warm box under a heat lamp, and I got them set up with food and water.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZLFJ_5UtzHSuOLedZKgPCt5Cnh3uY_kokjcQ3ooYJrolX-qCNn_otgwyHGqZrZeD64ORh89cHwrMec4mNHIUPoJnpEqlrDMIIW-FyZuPIwpA3EUPjfgZWSWEzZ7Z8LzgUk78s_4epe3z/s4128/20200626_084520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="New Babies on the Homestead - Grindle Creek Homestead - #guineas #incubator #guineakeets" border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZLFJ_5UtzHSuOLedZKgPCt5Cnh3uY_kokjcQ3ooYJrolX-qCNn_otgwyHGqZrZeD64ORh89cHwrMec4mNHIUPoJnpEqlrDMIIW-FyZuPIwpA3EUPjfgZWSWEzZ7Z8LzgUk78s_4epe3z/w320-h240/20200626_084520.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>They will be upgrading to their bigger, new brood box soon. I am waiting for the lamp clamp and door latch to arrive in the mail so I can install them.</p>
<p>Aren't they beautiful?</p>Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-15684522814746545112020-06-24T11:26:00.009-04:002022-08-23T15:31:18.839-04:00How to Can Green Beans<p>Yesterday, the kids and I canned the five and a half gallons of green beans that we had gotten from the gardens. It was a lot of green beans, so I had trimmed, snapped, and gotten out the bad ones the day before.</p>
<p>I woke up early to wash and sterilize all my jars.</p>
<p>Then once the kids and I ate breakfast, we set to work.</p>
<p>Before you start to can green beans, or any vegetable for that matter, please note that all vegetables MUST be pressure-canned. Water-bath canning does not get the vegetables in the jars hot enough to kill all the bacteria that can harm you.</p>
<p>I set my youngest loose with the washing of the green beans.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit50Z6WnHJpPKIuu2UBuT5h_p5Hl6YdzRMhiyL97313Hv-wV6W-y9Eq4E2X5odwSJase_wN17oqrt9Ch_RHXFA4fLpMAaec9PPTxmi7NRcS_B1_uNrI8m0EMpipwGwqbZrqRBc-K_gAsa6/s4128/20200623_094640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Can Green Beans - Grindle Creek Homestead - #pressurecanning #foodpreservation #stockingup" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit50Z6WnHJpPKIuu2UBuT5h_p5Hl6YdzRMhiyL97313Hv-wV6W-y9Eq4E2X5odwSJase_wN17oqrt9Ch_RHXFA4fLpMAaec9PPTxmi7NRcS_B1_uNrI8m0EMpipwGwqbZrqRBc-K_gAsa6/w240-h320/20200623_094640.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>While he was playing in the water, I set up the pressure canner on the stove. Before you turn it on, make certain that the bottom insert is inside the pressure canner. This keeps the jars off the bottom of the canner, which keeps them from blowing up inside the canner. Also, check your lid well. Make certain that the vent pipe is clear (that you can see through it to the other side from BOTH sides of the lid), and make certain that the nipple can freely rise and drop.</p>
<p>Fill your pressure canner with about three quarts of water. You want enough water in the canner to be around the sides of your jars but you DO NOT want the tops of the jars covered like you do in a water-bath canner. Since I was processing quart jars with this batch, I put in three quarts, but I use considerably less when I am processing smaller jars.</p>
<p>Also, before you begin, make certain that you have your rings and lids ready to go, and that all of your tools are on the counter and ready to use. It never fails for me. First time I can each year, I realize that I haven't gotten my tools out and cleaned them about the exact moment that I suddenly need my funnel. So I have to stop the process and go prepare all my tools.</p>
<p>It's an every single year thing.</p>
<p>Okay, once all of that is done (and my son was done playing in the water), I set him to work packing the jars while a big pot of water came to a boil on the stove. You will need this water to pour over your green beans before you seal them for canning.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQlUdje_rctPe0wvMQHjrGV5QIyETPJpvpdcGtPOm945gHb793WNQVZLZbC14K_8tZKmhKzQdWkJ9dlf5wLvnDoBcrXFjNLo-ZUQ7SzEDlxbwtDOrTccgjIomlS6Mje8i7dJAFTvKWmRD/s4128/20200623_094708.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Can Green Beans - Grindle Creek Homestead - #pressurecanning #foodpreservation #stockingup" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQlUdje_rctPe0wvMQHjrGV5QIyETPJpvpdcGtPOm945gHb793WNQVZLZbC14K_8tZKmhKzQdWkJ9dlf5wLvnDoBcrXFjNLo-ZUQ7SzEDlxbwtDOrTccgjIomlS6Mje8i7dJAFTvKWmRD/w240-h320/20200623_094708.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>We packed nineteen jars with green beans, and we packed them tight.</p>
<p>I moved seven of them over to my "Ring and Lid" station. I have a separate area for this for two main reasons. One, I don't accidentally fill too many with hot water for one batch, and two, with the kids helping me, it puts the jars in a place where I can fill them with boiling water and the kids won't accidentally touch one.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggNkNLGLdAMs57rMQyj8FN32oRJiAnlnlvSQ8ZqpLEVktwNjP204EBDNMUwvNdQfW3qh9VbDk4Hznl6WMcqOYVfxVjTm0xZ6_pIwW5D5ZKcplaDmXh-hMtKrawCZDn-8CvoC0C9_jzBSX/s4128/20200623_094714.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Can Green Beans - Grindle Creek Homestead - #pressurecanning #foodpreservation #stockingup" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggNkNLGLdAMs57rMQyj8FN32oRJiAnlnlvSQ8ZqpLEVktwNjP204EBDNMUwvNdQfW3qh9VbDk4Hznl6WMcqOYVfxVjTm0xZ6_pIwW5D5ZKcplaDmXh-hMtKrawCZDn-8CvoC0C9_jzBSX/w240-h320/20200623_094714.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>So, once they are over at the Ring and Lid station, I fill them up to the neck with boiling hot water. Then I take the Headspace Measuring Tool/ De-bubbler and I slide it down the sides inside the jar to knock any air bubbles loose. If you knock some loose and the water level falls, you will need to add more water to that jar. Make sure to leave a 1" headspace between the top of the jar and the top of the hot water.</p>
<p>Wipe the rims of the jars, and put your lid and ring on and tighten until finger tight. You don't have to muscle these jars closed. You turn it until you have to hold the jar to make it any tighter. That's enough.</p>
<p>Place your seven jars in the canner. You can pressure-can as few as 3 quart jars in a batch, so if you have less, don't worry. Just put them in. Put your lid on top and make sure it seals shut. Then turn you pot on High heat.</p>
<p>This part takes the longest, especially the first batch. You are coming from room temperature water to boiling. It takes my pot about thirty to forty-five minutes to do this. Once the steam is venting out the steam pipe in a steady flow, start your timer for 10 minutes.</p>
<p>When your timer goes off, put the weight or pressure regulator (depending on your model of pressure canner) on top of the vent pipe. This allows the canner to start building pressure. Watch your gauge now. After a few minutes, it will start to climb.</p>
<p>Now, for my altitude, I pressure-can at 10 lbs of pressure. If you are in a higher altitude than me (which most of the world is because I am at sea level), you will need to find out your altitude and check your canner's manual or the <a href="https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/general/selecting_correct_process_time.html">National Center for Home Food Preservation website</a> to find your pounds of pressure for your altitude and how long you will need to process at that amount of pressure.</p>
<p>For me, it is 10 lbs of pressure for 25 minutes for quart jars of green beans.</p>
<p>Now, when you hit your amount of pressure, you will need to lower your heat under your pot to maintain that amount of pressure for your allotted amount of minutes. For me, I go from High heat to Medium-Low heat, or about a 4 if you have a numbered dial. If it goes one pound higher, that is fine, but if it goes below your pounds per pressure amount, you have to let it come back up to the pounds of pressure you need then restart your timer.</p>
<p>Just whatever you do, DO NOT REMOVE THE LID OR THE PRESSURE REGULATOR AT ANY POINT DURING THIS PROCESS. I can't stress that enough.</p>
<p>DON'T DO IT.</p>
<p>Once your timer has gone off and you have processed your green beans for your allotted number of minutes at your specified pounds of pressure, turn the heat off. Nothing else. Just turn off the heat and let that pot depressurize. For me, that takes about half an hour. You will let that pot sit until the pressure gauge is back to zero and the nipple has dropped. I let mine sit for five extra minutes once the nipple has dropped just to make sure.</p>
<p>When this has finally happened, you want to open the lid away from your face. You want the steam to escape off the back of the pot, not the front.</p>
<p>That is not a facial steaming that you want, I promise you.</p>
<p>Remove your jars and place them on an old bath towel on a safe surface. I use the other end of my kitchen table. I prepare at one end and put my finished goods at the other to cool.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWHoL0kcks1wPrZKsivInefP1Z9lN3PBiF-B3mBzTklFFepgPRhqq9etXQtY2s0anIQu_39LD-eYxxGFhotQkkqPwWuVEb4EoWCs4lnQQ_ZI_ymbB6rHa6k8qNOg8-D6O6wbqmtjfmV5d/s4128/20200623_194840.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Can Green Beans - Grindle Creek Homestead - #pressurecanning #foodpreservation #stockingup" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWHoL0kcks1wPrZKsivInefP1Z9lN3PBiF-B3mBzTklFFepgPRhqq9etXQtY2s0anIQu_39LD-eYxxGFhotQkkqPwWuVEb4EoWCs4lnQQ_ZI_ymbB6rHa6k8qNOg8-D6O6wbqmtjfmV5d/w240-h320/20200623_194840.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>And there you have it. Jars of canned green beans.</p>
<p>If you have to do multiple batches, just repeat the steps again. The heating up process once you put the lid on won't be so long after the first batch because the water will still be fairly hot, but the steps are the same.</p>
<p>I hope this helps out everyone. I know this year a lot of us are trying to preserve our own food due to Coronavirus, and some of us have never done this before. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave me a comment.</p>
<p>Have fun canning!</p>Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-22964365949576785892020-06-22T11:22:00.005-04:002021-02-18T08:02:40.086-05:00General Update - June 22, 2020<p> Yesterday morning, I herded the children outside with me. It was a beautiful morning, but there were thunderstorms forecast for the afternoon, so I wanted them to get their outside time. They grabbed their harvesting buckets and hurried out the door with me because the garden awaited.</p>
<p>We have been harvested squash, cucumbers, and zucchini for about a week now. We found plenty more of those, but we also found a new surprise. My Contender green beans and my Tanya's Pink Pod beans were both ready to be picked! I was so excited.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjF50gm30rT71YXbvztnJWGUIauSpUzlhy0L2j7WyON2ffC8_cHlCaFWDDbeK7pEcePUJkDYr_8gj75YRnZSffqLw_7QLZ0FyGSwLGINJJDYtWqgYorOAs3KpL_04o_Fr0L1tJnB8-PAT/s4128/20200619_110240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Our First Green Beans - Grindle Creek Homestead - #greenbeans #garden #homestead" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjF50gm30rT71YXbvztnJWGUIauSpUzlhy0L2j7WyON2ffC8_cHlCaFWDDbeK7pEcePUJkDYr_8gj75YRnZSffqLw_7QLZ0FyGSwLGINJJDYtWqgYorOAs3KpL_04o_Fr0L1tJnB8-PAT/w240-h320/20200619_110240.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>The kids and I picked those along with the cucumbers, squash, and zucchini. I got about half of a five gallon bucket of green beans. It's not enough for me to warrant a canning day, yet, but within a day or two, I will have even more. So canning these beans is definitely in my future (probably before the end of the week).</p>
<p>After that, I attacked the tomato jungle with my pruning shears while the kids played.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVf2QtiGCkm44IYofWbGGxEef6c2LBE0oYD-qo1kTC-eGpa49EZ7-J2HmHFnvaYvrLlW0PlJ3uxwS0b9w-XXri0C-qmISzonw31cM6f1-eV47iNQ3DDJ-ZlTcid_0Wn6zJcoyKfR4tbUOw/s4128/20200619_092606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Tomato Jungle - Grindle Creek Homestead - #tomatoes #pruning #homestead" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVf2QtiGCkm44IYofWbGGxEef6c2LBE0oYD-qo1kTC-eGpa49EZ7-J2HmHFnvaYvrLlW0PlJ3uxwS0b9w-XXri0C-qmISzonw31cM6f1-eV47iNQ3DDJ-ZlTcid_0Wn6zJcoyKfR4tbUOw/w240-h320/20200619_092606.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>See? It was bad. Well, I've seen worse, but it was a mess. I'm still working through my fifteen rows of tomatoes, so I don't have any after pictures yet. They will be coming soon.</p>
<p>And of course, the whole time I was working, I had a small group of cats with me. We have about thirty on the farm, altogether. They are all well-fed, and they all have safe places to sleep at night. And they are much loved. They follow me just about everywhere. The kittens come for a little while to see what I am doing, but they end up chasing butterflies and going about their day within a few minutes. My older ones stick around. Usually in the shade of the nearby trees or under the shade of the plants. Lucan, my black and white tuxedo, stays close. Like touching my hip or back at all times close. When I am pruning tomatoes, I have to sit. It works my knees something fierce to constantly bend over to work. So he sits on the little wagon trolley with me. It's a flat-bed gorilla cart that I can push forward with my legs and steer with the handle, and there is enough room on the back to load my prunings.</p>
<p>But Lucan stays with me all day. Just laying beside me. It's hard work.</p>
<p>See?</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThXp8S13k52G9ZBtvNuSJ9Gad2-J1MV54KABgR_uP2FD4YgCFT6pEB1CL-l01v7McB7e778RgNHRvHTo7tku0Opx8sH0hyphenhyphenGekpQH4H_xwjcoh5x9yZlsuaaTMpnY9KoIF6SkLeyLfVhn-/s4128/20200619_143653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tired Lucan - Grindle Creek Homestead - #homestead #cats #lazycats" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThXp8S13k52G9ZBtvNuSJ9Gad2-J1MV54KABgR_uP2FD4YgCFT6pEB1CL-l01v7McB7e778RgNHRvHTo7tku0Opx8sH0hyphenhyphenGekpQH4H_xwjcoh5x9yZlsuaaTMpnY9KoIF6SkLeyLfVhn-/w240-h320/20200619_143653.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>That's Hart beside him (the brown tabby kitten).</p>
<p>Once we finished harvesting and pruning, the kids and I went in, cleaned up, and had lunch.</p>
<p>After lunch, I let the kids go back out and play if they wanted, and I sat down and start snapping green beans. The sky clouded up a few times, but it never actually rained. So I could have been outside and doing chores, but I did inside chores instead.</p>
<p>And I got a lot of green beans ready for the canner.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlEqW8ymC99UZF0ulUHY6tEaLz7fMscBLEhiEy3zEljuzO77jSLJIfSII4X0QBn4QIZ_1bsBhhCeslH1Snxh6aYigvpJUAuDySRoUKmcWObsTFxLfuvSi5gu6HjxZ-Rp-IUMwkCqMLGe-/s4128/20200621_155003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Canning Green Beans - Grindle Creek Homestead - #greenbeans #canning #foodpreservation" border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlEqW8ymC99UZF0ulUHY6tEaLz7fMscBLEhiEy3zEljuzO77jSLJIfSII4X0QBn4QIZ_1bsBhhCeslH1Snxh6aYigvpJUAuDySRoUKmcWObsTFxLfuvSi5gu6HjxZ-Rp-IUMwkCqMLGe-/w320-h240/20200621_155003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Hopefully, I will find more in the garden today so I can get the canner going this week.</p>
<p>How was your Sunday?</p>Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-39590712798195406832020-06-19T11:16:00.003-04:002021-02-13T11:21:20.937-05:00General Update - June, 19, 2020<p> Yesterday, the kids and I did a little bit of everything on the farm.</p>
<p>Monkey (my youngest), Little Man (my oldest boy), and I went out and picked over the cucumbers, squashes, and zucchinis. There was one or two of each, but it has been a bit too cool this week, so that was all we got.</p>
<p>Then we went and fed up our chickens and we refilled the food and water containers for my Dad's guinea keets. They are almost ready for a bigger pen, but we have a little dilemma.</p>
<p>We don't have a pen to put them in, at the moment.</p>
<p>I really need to get my two chicken tractors built this week.</p>
<p>After we fed those guys, I pruned a row of tomatoes. You are probably saying "A whole row? Don't exert yourself now." LOL It was only 30 plants, but they were out of control. It took me about an hour to get that row done, and my little wagon was full of cuts for the chickens.</p>
<p>And I still have thirteen more rows of tomatoes to get staked, pruned, and trellised up. So, one row was a decent goal for the day.</p>
<p>And then we did a little bit of straightening up. My hothouse and the greenhouse are now empty of plants except for my Dad's tray of watermelons, so all the pots and trays that I had used for all the plants are now piled up everywhere. We got them all in one place, and sometime before the end of the week, I will get the kids to wash them all out and stack them back up in the greenhouse for me to use when it is time to start planting Fall crops.</p>
<p>Which should be soon.</p>
<p>I just finished planting all the summer crops.</p>
<p>Whew.</p>
<p>That was our day yesterday. No pictures, I'm sorry. Our hands were in too many pots to remember pictures. I will do better.</p>
<p>How was your day?</p>Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-51423842447035465832020-06-18T11:13:00.003-04:002021-02-18T07:57:29.038-05:00A Break From the Rain - Time for a Quick Adventure<p>Yesterday, during a brief moment without rain, the kids and I made a brief excursion outside to walk the property. We try to do this every day, and we make certain that we do it after storms because there is always something to clean up.</p>
<p>And there was.</p>
<p>There were a few limbs down on the path that heads down towards the cows. We cleaned those up. We also found a lot of overgrown zucchini. So much rain and four days of not being able to get in the garden for fear of sinking up to our knees and losing our boots. We loaded those up in the wagon and carted them down to the cows for a good treat. They were enjoyed.</p>
<p>On the way back up to the house, we stopped in the orchard. We were mostly on the hunt for more guinea nests since the grass in high in the orchard right now and our guineas are free range. We found a small nest in my lemon squash on Monday, and we found a decent-sized nest next to the greenhouse yesterday.</p>
<p>We also found the first blueberries of the season.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEX5VWx_5DZZLatX82Jtd7PZ_GVpVKsyVwGni6J8ZMKUPt3mtXJpMzRRb7uiVTgRlUko0WmtW_xTqYe1dZ7CyICvN5bMyH9gxXvUC29mMbELkV52EBsCPQYAfsO8nHYn5dnIOhKyz3Qqt/s4128/20200617_151109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blueberries - Grindle Creek Homestead - #farmlife #fruits #blueberries" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEX5VWx_5DZZLatX82Jtd7PZ_GVpVKsyVwGni6J8ZMKUPt3mtXJpMzRRb7uiVTgRlUko0WmtW_xTqYe1dZ7CyICvN5bMyH9gxXvUC29mMbELkV52EBsCPQYAfsO8nHYn5dnIOhKyz3Qqt/w240-h320/20200617_151109.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>There weren't many, but there were enough for each of us to have two or three. But when those three bushes decide that it is high-time for them to be ripe, we will have gallons of berries. The middle bush is so loaded down that the branches are touching the ground.</p>
<p>I'm foreseeing lots of blueberry cobblers in my future.</p>
<p>I also checked on my elderberry plants.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfezgXf35Io973I6YLhe91DLgJU-HYeS9un0rl5pQI7QHBU1f0tkwnkKWNfxNzWVEEa-dwTQQ7kiyCU7KLbJeL4uNe374_rt9cVhHNukNsHBSSeGkhmk8OHYmmKBUIMEzNeEHfKipwMLS/s4128/20200617_151115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Elderberries in Bloom - Grindle Creek Homestead - #farmlife #elderberries #herbalmedicine" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfezgXf35Io973I6YLhe91DLgJU-HYeS9un0rl5pQI7QHBU1f0tkwnkKWNfxNzWVEEa-dwTQQ7kiyCU7KLbJeL4uNe374_rt9cVhHNukNsHBSSeGkhmk8OHYmmKBUIMEzNeEHfKipwMLS/w240-h320/20200617_151115.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>They are looking good. That particular one is buried in the overgrowth of the grapevine, but it is the farthest along when it comes to growth and food production.</p>
<p>I didn't know there were elderberries on the farm until last Fall when I decided to start learning about foraging. I found the one in the picture while we were picking grapes, and I compared it to my plant identification book and several other pictures that I had from catalogs. I was certain they were elderberries. My dad stood me down that they were pokeberries. By the time I managed to get a professional identification from a plant nursery, the berries were long gone for the year. Hopefully, this year, I will be able to harvest many of them.</p>
<p>Especially since I have now found over fifteen plants spread out around the farm.</p>
<p>It was nice to see the sun out, though. Even if it was only for about half an hour.</p>
<p>How was your day?</p>Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-87819268614773861712020-06-17T09:00:00.000-04:002021-02-13T11:10:44.144-05:00Pattern: Quick and Easy Crochet Circular Coaster<p>Yesterday, we had more rain. We stayed on schedule for the day, and my mom watched the kids (except for the Girl), and my Dad, the Girl, and I headed into town to take her to the dentist and do our every-other-week resupply. She got through her dentist appointment okay, but her mouth will be sore for the couple of days. It was still raining when we got home, so we unloaded everything and everyone went to their own homes and hunkered down for the day.</p>
<p>Which, for me, means I crocheted some more. Ha!</p>
<p>I worked on my cotton scrap box while I chilled out in my chair with my hot tea. Every year, I make an assortment of coasters and placemats for the Farmer's Market and my Etsy shop, so that's what I worked on yesterday afternoon.</p>
<p>These are simple round coasters. If you can join a ring, double crochet, chain, and slip stitch, you can make these coasters easily. I use Worsted Weight dishcloth cotton yarn for my projects along with an H-Hook (5.00 mm). I also tend to crochet tight with cotton, so you may need to adjust your hook size for your project to lay flat. With all of that being said, let's get to the pattern.</p>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZrrbJdCu_6AnOhdSpBbSA9q65kdSXhyphenhyphenF1joYw9g9pzqgcPY8_ugWwlag2GxM0O0WM_tdSexS4GTNEdgDgDm3jOBDabgdfbhoEGTpKY7UchfSbHROUGMF91KzKOkQtrXgJ5ew9kBassOX/s1600/Crochet+Coasters.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZrrbJdCu_6AnOhdSpBbSA9q65kdSXhyphenhyphenF1joYw9g9pzqgcPY8_ugWwlag2GxM0O0WM_tdSexS4GTNEdgDgDm3jOBDabgdfbhoEGTpKY7UchfSbHROUGMF91KzKOkQtrXgJ5ew9kBassOX/s320/Crochet+Coasters.jpg" title="Quick and Easy Crochet Circular Coasters #crochet #crazycrochetinmama #freepattern" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
Quick and Easy Crochet Circular Coaster Pattern</h3>
<h4>
Materials:</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
H - Hook (5.00 mm)</div>
<div>
Worsted Weight Cotton Yarn (any worsted weight will work, but cotton will be the most absorbent when it comes to condensation.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Project Notes:</h4>
<div>
* The (Chain 2) at the beginning of every round counts as the first stitch.</div>
<div>
* The first crocheted stitch of each round is always done in the same stitch as the turning chain.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKTU5fVDNf-qbwMqCCp04raJLfL2dC9uRJ7KNpadHC-gPl0C1KibOWNaWL0g6Yy8sXDR_8nC8cJsishoNd1zn7z9KdKHg1kImc3ayFcAkf0VVlMftYvsai4_1YDZC1qjKDQgDS25DVHi-/s1600/Starting+the+Round.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKTU5fVDNf-qbwMqCCp04raJLfL2dC9uRJ7KNpadHC-gPl0C1KibOWNaWL0g6Yy8sXDR_8nC8cJsishoNd1zn7z9KdKHg1kImc3ayFcAkf0VVlMftYvsai4_1YDZC1qjKDQgDS25DVHi-/s320/Starting+the+Round.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
* The last stitch(es) of every round are always done in the top of the last stitch of the previous row, the one hiding beneath the turning chain.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7P9PodL_ycC-SURMaGbPHBiLkOr1dQGEY6VOLhkYBgYJxYu3kWGYQjytpmUD_j1iY2Q1KTfLU_U4H6xWztML_5-s1yZ-3g5O6Hc1PUyMnfHjnrBWRZPb9upMqxUcvkTrLaXCqR3zrt2I/s1600/Finishing+the+Round.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="1600" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7P9PodL_ycC-SURMaGbPHBiLkOr1dQGEY6VOLhkYBgYJxYu3kWGYQjytpmUD_j1iY2Q1KTfLU_U4H6xWztML_5-s1yZ-3g5O6Hc1PUyMnfHjnrBWRZPb9upMqxUcvkTrLaXCqR3zrt2I/s400/Finishing+the+Round.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Pattern:</h4>
<div>
Tie a slip knot around your hook. Chain 4 and slip stitch into the first chain to make a circle. Chain 2.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Round 1: Remember that your (Chain 2) will always count as your first stitch. DC x 11 into the center of the ring. Slip Stitch in the top of the Chain 2 to close round. (12 stitches)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Round 2: Chain 2. DC in the stitch at the base of the Chain 2. DC 2 times into the next stitch and in the remaining 10 stitches, including the very last stitch tucked under the Chain 2. Slip stitch in the top of the Chain 2 to close round. (24 stitches)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Round 3: Chain 2. DC in base of Chain 2. DC in next stitch. (2 DC, 1 DC) around, ending with a 1 DC in the stitch tucked under the Chain 2. Slip Stitch in top of the Chain 2 to close round. (36 stitches)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Round 4. Chain 2. DC in base of the Chain 2. DC in each of the next two stitches. (2 DC, 1 DC, 1 DC) around circle, ending with a second 1 DC in the last stitch tucked under the Chain 2. Slip stitch to the top of the Chain 2 to close the round. (48 stitches)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fasten off and weave in ends.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-35087980130049070342020-06-16T11:03:00.003-04:002021-02-18T07:55:11.970-05:00More Rain -- A Day for Inside Fun<p>Yesterday, we woke up to more rain. And it was a cold rain. It was only 68 degrees Fahrenheit here yesterday, when it is usually already pushing mid-90s by this time of the year. So, it was unseasonably cold.</p>
<p>We went out and did our chores, feeding the animals and sweeping through the garden, gathering cucumbers and squash. Then we came back inside.</p>
<p>It was a day for no fans or air conditioning. It was a day for hot chocolate.</p>
<p>It was a day for crocheting.</p>
<p>I curled up on the sofa with my cup of hot chocolate, streamed <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSGEokQQcdAVFuL_Aq8dlg">Justin Rhodes</a> from Youtube on the television, and I crocheted most of the day.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhviYNETN7ZG5hNkzR6m6E36DBi7czqmU25mAGRK-3k6FjVlWhyphenhyphenNmUB-uE0EOJ9NyokmEFjLw1BBlroytx1eJh0ndDhAlfAlvO2hQcanOpxYUe9Dr7qQOFyCOC7w0gEkL_nLUnYn3KiS9m/s4045/20200615_193620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="More Rain -- A Day for Inside Fun - Grindle Creek Homestead - #crochet #crochetaccessories #homestead" border="0" data-original-height="2360" data-original-width="4045" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhviYNETN7ZG5hNkzR6m6E36DBi7czqmU25mAGRK-3k6FjVlWhyphenhyphenNmUB-uE0EOJ9NyokmEFjLw1BBlroytx1eJh0ndDhAlfAlvO2hQcanOpxYUe9Dr7qQOFyCOC7w0gEkL_nLUnYn3KiS9m/w320-h187/20200615_193620.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I pulled out my cotton and my favorite H hook, and I started making a two-foot wide rug for the bathroom. It will be approximately four feet long when I am done, and I am a little over a foot in on the project. (Yes, there is an errant end loose on the left-hand side. I missed one....)</p>
<p>One of my goals this year is to crochet/knit/weave away a large portion of my yarn stash. It is not as large as some stashes that I have seen, but it is a bit too large to store in this small house. So I need to get my hooks and needles busy.</p>
<p>All-in-all, it wasn't a bad way to spend an unseasonably cold day.</p>
<p>How was your day?</p>Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-21742216603004803432020-06-15T11:00:00.003-04:002021-02-18T07:53:26.514-05:00Dehydrating Peppermint<p> </p><h6 style="text-align: center;">This post may contain affiliate links.</h6>
<p>This weekend, I tackled the task of "grooming" my herb garden. With the vegetable garden being so large this year and with three-fourths of my help being away all last week, the vegetable garden got all of my attention and my little (okay, not so little) herb garden was neglected.</p>
<p>And my herbs were out of control.</p>
<p>I trimmed the lemon balm down to size. It had grown three feet tall and about four feet wide. And it had started to flower. Since I already have four quart jars of dehydrated lemon balm, I took those fresh greens over to my Ladies (my chickens), and they had a glorious picnic.</p>
<p>My major task was tackling my peppermint. This bush had grown so large and bushy that I could no longer see the sides of the raised bed around it. I filled up an entire five gallon bucket with peppermint clippings to clean and dehydrate.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1_iDR6gFiKmY_S1STVdYUrmPgmsieAy8Z7m0CsSPxTrx93PmVToxjsQaHfOr62ptivC0gKeVofPHyLC_VoEFP1zSUu5SNFzn-3JrBe18q70l8WcWwn9KKvN6VCE2tolFmbWH00OD84RB/s4128/20200523_083240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dehydrating Peppermint - Grindle Creek Homestead #peppermint #dehydrating #foodpreservation" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1_iDR6gFiKmY_S1STVdYUrmPgmsieAy8Z7m0CsSPxTrx93PmVToxjsQaHfOr62ptivC0gKeVofPHyLC_VoEFP1zSUu5SNFzn-3JrBe18q70l8WcWwn9KKvN6VCE2tolFmbWH00OD84RB/w240-h320/20200523_083240.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>
<p>I washed them and de-stemmed them, then I arranged all the leaves on my <a href="https://amzn.to/2N1bNwS">Nesco Gardenmaster</a> dehydrator trays (all 8 of them), and dried them out. Then I repeated that process four more times over the weekend.</p>
<p>And the entire five gallon bucket of peppermint now fits in one pint-sized jar with a little leftover.</p>
<p>Hmm...that little leftover sounds like a perfect excuse to make peppermint tea in the morning.</p>
<p>How was your weekend?</p>Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-13619525590316168102020-06-13T10:56:00.002-04:002021-02-13T11:00:13.155-05:00Rain - A Pleasant Day for Reading<p> Yesterday, the rains set in early. Once again, I had just enough time to run out after the sun rose, feed my chickens, and give the garden a once-over for cucumbers and squash. I found a few, but had to make a mad dash for the door as the rain started coming down again.</p>
<p>So, since I couldn't spend the day outside among my plants and my animals, I curled up on the sofa with my middle son, a couple of my inside cats, and two of the books I am currently reading.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0865718466/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0865718466&linkCode=as2&tag=jccauthon-20&linkId=375342ddf2691cb4d06941754cefc918" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="alignleft" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0865718466&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=jccauthon-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jccauthon-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0865718466" style="border: none !important; margin: 0!important;" width="1" /></p><p>I finished <a href="https://amzn.to/2UFCagd">Homegrown & Handmade: A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant Living</a> by Deborah Niemann. It was an extremely informative book that covered almost every topic you can think of about homesteading and running a small farm. I grew up on a farm, and this book still taught me several things that I didn't know. Like, did you know that you could milk sheep, donkeys, and even camels? I didn't. Each chapter opened with a broad topic to consider as you start your homesteading journey, and then it broke that broad topic down into different sub-topics that you can do if you decided to include the broad topic on your farm. Such as, if you decided to raise a dairy cow or dairy goats, you could use the milk to drink, the cream to make butter or to make cheeses, and you can even use the goat's milk to make soap. It was enlightening, to say the least. I highly recommend reading this book even if you are a seasoned homesteader. You might learn something new.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0892968206/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0892968206&linkCode=as2&tag=jccauthon-20&linkId=6d76d1b1ac64c543e00bfa9c5dc5c8e9" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="alignright" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0892968206&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=jccauthon-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jccauthon-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0892968206" style="border: none !important; margin: 0!important;" width="1" /></p><p>Once I finished that book, I cracked open <a href="https://amzn.to/2YyTa8W">Folks, This Ain't Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World</a> by Joel Salatin. I'm a far cry from having it finished, but Mr. Salatin offers a unique point-of-view in how things could be better if people are a little more conscious of what they are doing to the world. He goes into the food supply and how it is essentially broken, and if anyone has been paying attention to the news since COVID-19 began, they can see that he is correct. In this book, he pushes the people of the world to become more in touch with their food. He doesn't flat-out tell everyone to plant a garden and butcher their own meat, but he does urge everyone to at least find a local farmer to source their food from instead of relying on the grocery store and all of its plastic-wrapped foods. This is another highly informative book that I urge everyone to read when I see them.</p>
<p>For some, these types of books are not their cup of tea, but for me, they were a perfect way to spend my rainy day.</p>
<p>How was your Friday?</p>Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-83526466947851246472020-06-12T10:52:00.005-04:002021-02-18T07:51:52.409-05:00Gardening Adventure -- Yes, I Know I Need to Weed<p> Yesterday, I took a quick walk through the garden. As much as I needed to do in it, I had to make it quick because I could see the storm clouds rolling in over the pine trees to the west of my farm.</p>
<p>I stopped first in my cherry tomato section. Yes, I have so many planted that they have a section. I checked through the (<i>cough</i>) 90 cherry tomato plants, pruning away a couple of unhealthy leaves, and I came upon these beauties, hiding in the foliage.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXj6J9_ULbUoTzxx7Yoaa6Diibp3dUfW3XboV2NzoySYN9IyrgJ7dUFuybq50al1PBTFFk1afe2Z7VkOTf2aqBrjbm4PlgH9zC6TWHBSI0PrCzU0LRBPt7aa1v0Sp-wQBSi_4aTONkAXJE/s4128/20200611_084224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Indigo Apple Tomatoes - Grindle Creek Homestead - #cherrytomato #garden2020 #homesteading" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXj6J9_ULbUoTzxx7Yoaa6Diibp3dUfW3XboV2NzoySYN9IyrgJ7dUFuybq50al1PBTFFk1afe2Z7VkOTf2aqBrjbm4PlgH9zC6TWHBSI0PrCzU0LRBPt7aa1v0Sp-wQBSi_4aTONkAXJE/w240-h320/20200611_084224.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>
<p>These are on one of my six Indigo Apple Tomato plants. They are about the size of a half dollar (USD), so they won't get any bigger, but they are starting to get their purple blush. I am so ready for some fresh tomatoes.</p>
<p>I continued down the path beside the garden, glancing over many of my crops from the path because they are nowhere near ready, but I stopped for a moment in my cucumbers.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrReBEXkZ-8hFoFGFuFDCqjtcHrN9ZIVkPHXlt-BdUSYQHaHPbrmxWGPP_ndurAuTlDn3ZSVyCKG8lCt5402GlyV9pzZ4VAFGj2vxmafR5KhpFGFvzujtaK9YGthKCUjHV1jnMZgjf13A2/s4128/20200611_084306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pixie Cucumbers - Grindle Creek Homestead - #homestead #cucumbers #garden 2020" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrReBEXkZ-8hFoFGFuFDCqjtcHrN9ZIVkPHXlt-BdUSYQHaHPbrmxWGPP_ndurAuTlDn3ZSVyCKG8lCt5402GlyV9pzZ4VAFGj2vxmafR5KhpFGFvzujtaK9YGthKCUjHV1jnMZgjf13A2/w240-h320/20200611_084306.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>
<p>I'm trellising them up some rabbit guard fence that I found around the farm, and so far, that is working. I've already harvested a fair amount off these plants, and they are just getting started.</p>
<p>Yes, I know I need to weed. It's a 5200 square foot garden, and my helpers are on a trip with their Dad this week, so things are getting a little behind.</p>
<p>I picked another five cucumbers off those plants, and then I moved on down the path, the rumbling of thunder telling me that my time was running out. I glanced over my slicing and paste tomatoes from the path, making note to come back tomorrow and prune them, and I stopped at my squash. Some of them looked like they were close to being ready the day before, so I wanted to double-check them.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVnGRRCCMjsbqkSNUgzi3jVFRua346A-XnCTfIQOcKRLpvSIz66ufiSTN68VECjnlC0dL-WKRPO8t5MRS8tVIxpKfTejHe4TCO2WLpI7-gs0SDdf-SjINfhvJoz5LRQUO2ixxHsBvQwlv/s4128/20200611_084533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellow Straightneck Squash - Grindle Creek Homestead - #squash #homesteading #garden2020" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVnGRRCCMjsbqkSNUgzi3jVFRua346A-XnCTfIQOcKRLpvSIz66ufiSTN68VECjnlC0dL-WKRPO8t5MRS8tVIxpKfTejHe4TCO2WLpI7-gs0SDdf-SjINfhvJoz5LRQUO2ixxHsBvQwlv/w240-h320/20200611_084533.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>
<p>They are still a little small for my tastes, so I left them for another day. But look at how loaded that one plant is. And I have twelve more just like it, in four different varieties. Plus butternut squash. Plus zucchini.</p>
<p>I am so excited this year!</p>
<p>Thunder rumbled again, a lot closer this time, so I rushed down to the end of the path and checked on the last 90 tomato plants that I set out on Tuesday. They are still in transplant shock, but I think they are going to be okay. As are the seven melon plants that I set out.</p>
<p>I gripped my bucket and rushed back down the path towards my house, snipping the top out of some basil as I hurried inside, just as the rain started coming down.</p>
<p>All of my yard cats gathered with me under the roof of the porch and watched it rain. Watching it fall on my garden and all around the farm is a beautiful moment.</p>
<p>(But I know that tomorrow, the weeds will be even larger. LOL)</p>
<p>Have a great day, everyone!</p>Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-69496537198308850142020-06-11T10:48:00.013-04:002021-02-18T07:48:06.437-05:00Canning Potatoes<div class="separator"></div><p> Yesterday was a first for me.</p>
<p>I had put it off for two years. I'd think that I was ready, hear a horror story of something that happened to some aunt of mine thirty years ago, and then I would talk myself back out of it again. I purchased all the tools that I needed to do it, but they sat, ignored, in the top-most corner of my pantry. I had to do something. I had to admit it to someone.</p>
<p>I was scared to pressure can.</p>
<p>There, I said it. I was. I grew up hearing horror stories of some relative who was pressure canning something, and the pressure go too high, and the canner exploded. No one ever got hurt in the stories, but they spent weeks scraping food off the walls and ceilings.</p>
<p>And that was just something I never wanted to do.</p>
<p>But, this is a new year. This is the year that I want my kids to eat healthier, to have food stored up in my pantry so that when I do venture into town to "do the marketing," I am only buying feed for the animals and the few staples that I just can't produce on my own just yet. This is our year to do away with tin cans of pre-packaged, preservative-heavy foods.</p>
<p>I had to learn how to pressure can.</p>
<p>So, I took the leap.</p>
<p>Yesterday morning, I pulled down my pressure canner, gave it a good washing to show it that I really didn't hate it, and I set to work. It was a lot of cutting, and there was a lot of steam spurting from the top of the canner, but by the end of the day, I had 21 beautiful jars of canned potatoes.</p>
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh712g_jSf85IDnJzfkqkwCN4cXxWRTVQ-TUIU9Cig-HQzff5lT9r8y2IqnMqqOmTCJXv8b7GIuZbOe5K_w1PGVdcM5c7ukoNq1obDMXfS3__S9S5IZNF6CkN376UjNug3c5f081-5mMWkk/s4128/20200610_155948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pressure Canning Potatoes - Grindle Creek Homestead #pressurecanning #foodpreservation #pioneerskills" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh712g_jSf85IDnJzfkqkwCN4cXxWRTVQ-TUIU9Cig-HQzff5lT9r8y2IqnMqqOmTCJXv8b7GIuZbOe5K_w1PGVdcM5c7ukoNq1obDMXfS3__S9S5IZNF6CkN376UjNug3c5f081-5mMWkk/w240-h320/20200610_155948.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></p>Are they gorgeous?<p></p>
<p>Now, I did have two jars that didn't seal when I checked them this morning. So those are on the menu for dinner tonight (and probably leftovers for the next day or so), but I think I know why they didn't seal. They were from my second batch in the canner, and while I was packing the potatoes in the jar and putting on lids and all that, my autistic son was right beside me, trying to get my attention. While I was multi-tasking, I may have forgotten to wipe down the rims before I put on the lids and rings. But that is a lesson learned for next time.</p>
<p>How was your day?</p>Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-76582845327624105312020-04-28T10:44:00.002-04:002021-02-13T10:46:57.015-05:00Tuesday, April 28, 2020<p> Wow, ever just realized what day it was and you had no idea when the days had slipped by? We've been busy, don't get me wrong, but with the Coronavirus sweeping through, all of my days seem to just blur together. No longer do I have to get up and get the kids out the door and on the bus before 7:00 in the morning, no more doctor appointments to keep up with, etc. It's just the farm, day in and day out.</p><br />It's not a bad life, but the days do seem to blur together sometimes.<br /><br />Which is why I am a day late again with getting this post written. I seriously thought it was Monday morning this morning, and I went through the whole day thinking I could write this post tonight and I'd be on time.<br /><br />Boy was I wrong.<br /><br />Anyway.<br /><br />The kids and I spent the week putting compost on all of my garden rows. My tarp between the rows idea was a bust. I don't know if I was using the wrong kind of tarp or if I just have resilient weeds, but those weeds popped right up through the tarp, growing and laughing at me. So, we pulled the tarps up this morning while we were putting the compost on the last two rows. Then the boys took the stakes out of the tarp so we could use all of those materials elsewhere at some later date, and I started planting my seeds.<br /><br />All of my seeds are in the garden now except for my okra, and they'll be going in tomorrow. My tomato and cucumber plants will be going in as well. I have a few tomato plants varieties that are taking a little longer take off than others, so they will have to wait and go into the ground when the peppers are ready. Which should be in another two or three weeks. Our summer season is just starting for us, so that will give them plenty of time to start fruiting.<br /><br />Right now, though, my garden looks like I have planted flags. I had to mark off my sections so the kids could help me without me having to guide them every step of the way. They had fun. My oldest two went to work planting my squash and zucchinis, and I worked with the seeder to get my beans and cow peas planted. Then my youngest and I planted the Big Mama lima beans and the potato plants while my oldest two put all the onion sets in the ground.<br /><br />So, in about two weeks, my garden should be popping up green everywhere.<br /><br />I'm excited, and I can't wait.<br /><br />We will have fruits and vegetables on the farm for sale all summer, so come out and buy some fresh produce as soon as it is ready.<br /><br />Have a great week, everyone!Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-11749544223355692022020-04-21T10:41:00.002-04:002021-02-13T10:42:44.685-05:00Tuesday, April 21, 2020<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0z4X26e1X39ApzGA2P9SeLlOtLW1vgOsIL8zI7n24QujcZJ3_Up2CxrMyeK1bWAAXiQCKkc7qmZTXjX2Ceez2p4jtOwYkki__6wKpaWv4cIHCCdJ9QP_roWQg-Y_B246hasY8KbLMf-g/s1600/20200419_115731.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0z4X26e1X39ApzGA2P9SeLlOtLW1vgOsIL8zI7n24QujcZJ3_Up2CxrMyeK1bWAAXiQCKkc7qmZTXjX2Ceez2p4jtOwYkki__6wKpaWv4cIHCCdJ9QP_roWQg-Y_B246hasY8KbLMf-g/s320/20200419_115731.jpg" width="265" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Good morning, everyone! I know, I know. I'm a day late in writing this post. Yesterday was the first day back to school for the kids coming off of Spring Break, and it was pouring down raining, so no one wanted to cooperate. Classwork took the entire morning, and then some.<br /><br />But I digress. I'm here now.<br /><br />Last week was a fairly quiet week. The weather couldn't decide if it wanted to be pretty and sunny or cold and ugly, so we weren't as productive as I wanted us to be. We did manage to get the pullets in their new living quarters, and we covered about half of the garden with compost. I didn't get much done on the brood box project, but it is coming along.<br /><br />We hauled compost off and on the entire week, except on the two days where it was 50 degrees with winds blowing so it felt like 40 degrees. The kids and I hung inside on those days, baked bread, made shampoo bars, and just chilled in the heat. But the garden rows are covered up to about the halfway point of the garden. My dad is planning to plow the rest of my rows either Tuesday or Wednesday, and then the kids and I can continue on with the wagon and wheelbarrow, hauling compost.<br /><br />We moved the pullets to their new-to-them static pen on Thursday. I am not happy about the pen that they are in, but my chicken coop is not finished (having a hard time finding supplies with the quarantine and all). The pen they are in is secure, though, so I know that they are safe until I can finish their new one. And they seem content at the moment. They have been pecking, scratching about, and exploring every nook and cranny of it. The pen just doesn't have access to fresh grass, so the kids and I are having to cut an armful every day and deliver it to them.<br /><br />The brood box project is still a large box, but I have cut out the holes in the lift door to add my hardware cloth. That's as far as I got this week. I'm still trying to decide if I want to keep the bottom of the box as wood and just add a lot of shavings or if I want to go with a hardware cloth bottom. Decisions, decisions.<br /><br />Next week will see us doing more composting on the garden and maybe a little sowing. The kids and I are ready to start putting seeds in the ground. My tomatoes are almost ready for transplanting, but my peppers are still flagging behind. I up-potted them earlier this week, so hopefully they will spread their wings and start growing. We shall see.<br /><br />I hope that everyone is doing well and that you are enjoying your time with you family. God bless, and stay safe!Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-84888605119533496212020-04-13T10:29:00.002-04:002021-02-13T10:40:34.145-05:00Monday, April 13, 2020<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6PXhqnBmYh98ZARroWnYFmNgFVL0CRHD71iNYEkHvQBw67TSmoDEgfAEnVMoFXFnwFuTOWXFSxiKNGEqiilDWVYnkn2zi1WeO2SWjumB54YYmR9L_Ue6NBeud745ZIGeCCvrPqRvZhQ/s1600/20200412_184443.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1021" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6PXhqnBmYh98ZARroWnYFmNgFVL0CRHD71iNYEkHvQBw67TSmoDEgfAEnVMoFXFnwFuTOWXFSxiKNGEqiilDWVYnkn2zi1WeO2SWjumB54YYmR9L_Ue6NBeud745ZIGeCCvrPqRvZhQ/s320/20200412_184443.jpg" width="204" /></a></p>Good morning, beautiful people! How are you doing? We are doing well here in our neck of the woods. We are currently under a tornado watch with severe thunderstorms and high winds, so I will be making this blog entry quick.<br /><br />This week, the kids and I have been busy as much as we can be. We had a couple of days with high winds and cool temperatures, so we didn’t spend a lot of time outside on those two days. And the kids are trying to survive online schooling, so a lot of their time was spent inside, doing classwork assignments.<br /><br />My little seedlings are doing well. The temporary hothouse is doing a very good job, and it is bursting with little green plants everywhere.<br /><br />On Monday, my Dad and I repaired the old greenhouse the best that we could with the materials that we had on hand. It is holding heat now, even without the door and missing one roof panel, but it is doing its job. Once the weather cools off again, I may have to put some plastic tarp in place of the missing panel and figure out something for the door, but for now, it is working. I will be starting more plants in there for my Dad this week, and I will be up-potting my tomatoes as well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl0n7Zsr4O1SrSq-78Kc4_kjzScetjZiBLRvpDAJGWjVXZoFI1W4CBMH897DumoaZmdA7z7GH1SoxYE169vMJkEL_podYwmesrgs4iffb6cpV5VfzZhj-Z9vzIigbJswWgUj1kLlm7wo/s1600/20200412_184523.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl0n7Zsr4O1SrSq-78Kc4_kjzScetjZiBLRvpDAJGWjVXZoFI1W4CBMH897DumoaZmdA7z7GH1SoxYE169vMJkEL_podYwmesrgs4iffb6cpV5VfzZhj-Z9vzIigbJswWgUj1kLlm7wo/s320/20200412_184523.jpg" width="320" /></a>On Tuesday, my Dad and my uncle took the dump truck down to the county Transport Depot, and they brought home a beautiful pile of composted “yard waste” (ie, mulched leaves, wood chips from limbs, and grass clippings). I’ve already applied it to my little herb garden, and the kids and I have started putting it on the rows in my large garden. My dad is planning on adding some to his large garden as well, so they will probably have to take the dump truck to get more before the season is over.<br /><br />My uncle brought home a large wooden shipping crate this week that I think I will be turning into a brood box. I will share pictures of that once I have it cleaned up and I am certain it will serve my purpose. If it works, that will be a lot less work I will have to do to build one.<br /><br />My ten chicks are almost ready to go out to their “new to them” coop. I am not happy about having to put them in a static coop or in the old dilapidated chicken coops that we have here on the farm, but my hands are tied. It is still my Dad’s farm and his outbuildings, so I have to use what I have. Their coop is secure, though. I reinforced the door, filled in the holes, and cleaned it out well. I will be adding wheat straw to the floor to start a deep litter system, and I will be using pine shavings in the nest boxes. I’m planning to put them in the coop near the end of the week.<br /><br />On a sadder note, we lost our white peacock yesterday morning. Gloriana, as I dubbed her many years ago, was over ten years old, and she will be missed. We still have two females and three males of our Indian peacocks, but Gloriana was the last of our white peacocks.<br /><br />That was our week, overall. I’m still working on my Dad on getting pigs to tear up the fields and eat all the weeds that we have to fight every planting season, and we finally got the grapevines trimmed for the first time in almost twenty years, so things are moving forward slowly. I want this farm to return to its former glory, but we are having to take it one day at a time.<br /><br />Have a great week, everyone, and stay safe!<br />Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-57147201733758238212020-04-06T10:24:00.001-04:002021-02-13T10:41:10.356-05:00Monday, April 6, 2020<p> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hello and good morning, beautiful people! I hope that everyone is having a good day, and that you are all staying safe during our COVID-19 self-quarantines.</span></p><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This week on the homestead, the children and I re-potted a lot of plants from the seedling trays in my tiny greenhouse. My oldest son wanted to try many (many, many) varieties of tomatoes this year, so I have, I think, 22 different varieties of tomatoes that will be going in our garden this year. Along with all the beans, peas, squash, cucumbers, potatoes, and other goodies that we usually plant. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our garden this year is approximately 3200 square feet. I decided to forego a Spring garden this year, as winter never officially happened and my Fall garden was still in full swing when Spring arrived. I let the rest of my greens go to seed, saved what I could, and pulled up the rest of the plants for the cows and chickens. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My Daddy was kind enough to disc and plow up my garden for me after that. We haven’t made the rows in the garden just yet, as it rained and it was too wet to run the tractor through the field, but we will hopefully get to that at the beginning of the upcoming week. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am changing the way I am doing my garden this year. Instead of wide paths and narrow rows, I am doing 18 inch paths and 24 inch wide rows. And I’m planning to make it permanent this year. The kids and I will be putting down a weed barrier between the rows and covering that with wood chips, and we will be covering the rows with deep bedding to keep the weeds down as much as possible. If this doesn’t work this year, I will be running chickens over it before next year to let them eat as much of the weeds and seeds as possible before the next season.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our chickens are almost ready to go out to their “new” temporary pen. It has been quite an adventure having them in the house in their brood box with all the inside cats. I’m planning to start introducing them to the outside world this week for a few hours at a time, and bringing them back inside for the night.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve also added “Build an Outdoor Brood Box” to my list of projects because having to move the chickens to the floor or the kitchen table every time I needed to get in my freezer has gotten old. Very fast. So that project will be coming soon, along with the new chicken coop I am still designing. And I will probably be sharing the blueprints for the coop and the brood box once they are done.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">That is all that has been happening on the homestead this week. We have many more projects on the books for this upcoming week, so I had best get to them!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have a great week, everyone!</span></span>Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0Bethel, NC 27812, USA35.7787054 -77.36689657.4684715638211543 -112.5231465 64.088939236178845 -42.210646499999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-85816147249063429872020-01-11T09:00:00.000-05:002020-01-11T09:00:07.817-05:00Update: January 11, 2020<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hello, and welcome to the Crazy Crochetin’ Mama! I’m glad that
you have stopped by today. I want to wish everyone a happy New Year.
I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas 2019, and that you enjoyed
your New Year’s celebration as 2020 begun. My children and I
celebrated a quiet Christmas here at home, watching movies, reading
books, and playing with toys. New Year’s Eve was much the same as
all my children are young, and we live far outside of town. They
went to sleep early, and I stayed up a little while longer listening
to an audiobook and crocheting on one last cardigan.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeesOujPKPNDqcy2JW71mEcccewSG0pgepLzt4lDGw-NufSxs5c-KE4o1stVbkj3FYMZRbX3pPNokD4f5GJc8O_RKKmnfTq-5UR4Y4EK2kkoGuzXyAce_xkW8rmq9oSKRg6rrbbeX5EIl/s1600/20191225_120355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1550" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeesOujPKPNDqcy2JW71mEcccewSG0pgepLzt4lDGw-NufSxs5c-KE4o1stVbkj3FYMZRbX3pPNokD4f5GJc8O_RKKmnfTq-5UR4Y4EK2kkoGuzXyAce_xkW8rmq9oSKRg6rrbbeX5EIl/s320/20191225_120355.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ignore the faces on my boys in blue and red. Trying to get the one in yellow to stand still for a picture is hard enough. I take what I can get.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
December was a
whirlwind of finished projects. I made all the kids’ teachers and
bus drivers scarves, hats, and gloves this year (or some mix match
combination of those three items), and I crocheted each of the kids
and myself a cardigan. I, unfortunately, did not take any pictures
of the teachers’ gifts as I barely got them finished in time for
the kids to give them to their teachers before Christmas. I did get
a picture of my kids in their Christmas cardigans. (Mine still isn’t
finished.)</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I still have a lot
of works in progress because I can’t just work on one thing. My
Christmas cardigan is about halfway done. All I have left is the
sleeves and the collar. I just ran out of steam when everyone was
sick. I’ll be picking that back up this week.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I also have a woven
blanket that I am working on, I’m still plugging along on the
Tetris blanket, and I have three new shawls that I am working on. I
also have two patterns that I wrote up after Thanksgiving that I am
trying to crochet up so that I can set up the patterns for my blog or
my shop (I haven’t decided where those two patterns will end up
yet). And I have a knitted shawlette that I am working on and a
knitted washcloth pattern that I wrote that I am in the process of
knitting up.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The shop will be
experiencing some growth this year. I will be adding patterns as
soon as they are ready for release, and I have several
crocheted/knitted/woven items that I want to sell that I will be
adding soon.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
That is it for now.
I’m hoping to have more growth as I share more in 2020, and I hope
that you all enjoy. Have a great day and enjoy the rest of your
week!</div>
<br />Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-62141805954037375382019-11-25T09:00:00.011-05:002021-03-06T13:48:27.784-05:00Pattern: Basic Fingerless Glove Crochet Pattern<script type="text/javascript" src="https://payhip.com/payhip.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var PayhipConfig = {
enableCart: true
};
</script>
As the weather gets cooler here in eastern North Carolina, I find myself wishing
that I had some way to keep my hands warm but still retain the use of my fingers
to work in the garden and around the farm.
<div><br /></div>
<div>Behold, fingerless mitts. </div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
I searched on Ravelry and around the internet for a simple fingerless mitt
pattern in crochet, but I didn't find one that really fit my needs, so I came
up with my own. These are simple, quick mitts. They took me,
maybe, an hour to crochet up.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
<p>
As always, the pattern is available for free down below, but if you want to
purchase the ad-free version, click on the links below the pattern to
purchase your very own PDF version of the pattern.
</p>
<p></p><div id="amzn-assoc-ad-076082db-5f20-4dfb-b2ea-25e8520d9381"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=076082db-5f20-4dfb-b2ea-25e8520d9381"></script><p></p>
<h3 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b> Basic Crochet Fingerless Gloves</b>
</h3>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /> </b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Materials Needed:</b>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFueZY_GQ8zxgRJg5UC9X0SS3pWMZMNAKqICsZg2ch6RN3wSOCuZBr0_4z5s4h3UVtiKTS2oAaFH1PaRKkRQQ0fvbA1Q8ajg0SyLN2dFR6774a1n0D2EK7H7kRVXbRJWyIjROU8EkPyr9u/s1600/20191123_091603.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="1600" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFueZY_GQ8zxgRJg5UC9X0SS3pWMZMNAKqICsZg2ch6RN3wSOCuZBr0_4z5s4h3UVtiKTS2oAaFH1PaRKkRQQ0fvbA1Q8ajg0SyLN2dFR6774a1n0D2EK7H7kRVXbRJWyIjROU8EkPyr9u/s320/20191123_091603.jpg" width="320" /></a></b>
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /> </b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Worsted Weight (#4) yarn</b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>H – J (5.00 – 5.5 mm) Hook</b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /> </b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Stitches Used:</b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /> </b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>DC – Double Crochet</b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>FPDC – Front Post Double Crochet</b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>BPDC – Back Post Double Crochet</b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>HDC – Half Double Crochet</b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /> </b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /> </b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Special Stitches:</b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /> </b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>FPDC -
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Yarn over (wrap the yarn around your hook). Insert your hook
into the front of your work, behind the indicated stitch, and
then through your work such that your hook is now at the front
of your work again. Yarn over (wrap the yarn around your
hook). Pull up a loop. Yarn over (wrap the yarn around your
hook). Pull through 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over (wrap the
yarn around your hook). Pull through final 2 loops on your
hook.</span></span></span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /> </b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>BPDC -
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Yarn over (wrap the yarn around your hook). Insert your hook
into the back of your work, in front of the indicated stitch,
and then through your work such that your hook is now at the
back of your work again. Yarn over (wrap the yarn around your
hook). Pull up a loop. Yarn over (wrap the yarn around your
hook). Pull through 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over (wrap the
yarn around your hook). Pull through final 2 loops on your
hook.</span></span></span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /> </b>
</div>
<script async="" src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8180765844977802" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-layout="in-article" data-ad-slot="6544244312" style="display: block; text-align: center;"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b> </b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Pattern</b>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Round 1:</b> Double Crochet Chainless Foundation for 27 stitches (count
stitches, not created posts). Slip stitch together to form a round.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Round 2:</b> Chain 2. FPDC around the first post. BPDC around the next
post. (FPDC, BPDC) until the end of the round. FPDC around the last post.
Slip stitch the ends together to close the round.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Rounds 3 – 6:</b>
Repeat Round 2.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Round 7:</b> Chain 1. Beginning with the stitch at the base of the
turning chain, HDC in every stitch around. Slip stitch the ends together to
close the round.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP06Ly7rdYnfL1c6M9eI5qWWk5CPE8f__vNGsIO0dEMyjeAWomiVICXgtoxKuGcaHCQuaGy1M4g6r0yemh9R1Jm7RrQA6z5IW1t89vAJmBd4Ofxf-MlCxTyA-rCziY6yJjS8-fp4e5Vn1f/s1600/20191123_091539.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="1600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP06Ly7rdYnfL1c6M9eI5qWWk5CPE8f__vNGsIO0dEMyjeAWomiVICXgtoxKuGcaHCQuaGy1M4g6r0yemh9R1Jm7RrQA6z5IW1t89vAJmBd4Ofxf-MlCxTyA-rCziY6yJjS8-fp4e5Vn1f/s320/20191123_091539.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Rounds 8 – 13:</b>
Repeat Round 7.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>(Working the thumb hole.) Round 14:</b> Chain 1. Beginning with the
stitch at the base of the turning chain, HDC in every stitch around. Do not
join together. Instead, turn your work.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Rounds 15 – 19:</b>
Repeat Round 14.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Round 20:</b> Chain 1. Beginning with the stitch at the base of the
turning chain, HDC in every stitch around. Slip stitch the ends together to
close the round.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Rounds 21 – 23:</b>
Repeat Round 20.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Fasten off and weave in ends. Decorate as you wish.</b>
</div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">To purchase an ad-friendly copy of the above pattern, please use the links below. </div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/crazycrochetinmama/listing/891012756/quick-crochet-fingerless-gloves-pattern?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1615056203290" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHPdiTcl6uUzD4HpyedBwSd5-PRj5eIzWy0_Zn_7fM8vtDtK5lGlmYn22gdoel2uWYKKAQiZGa0qpesZQJLxmq3HDkxF_GWlxc6ycG_QNQg-LnFAX947BapgGUacyVrKEdNn_tFr7vYGp/s200/Etsy+Button.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;"><script src="https://gumroad.com/js/gumroad.js"></script>
<a class="gumroad-button" href="https://gum.co/sMFMT">Purchase from Gumroad</a></td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;"><a href="https://payhip.com/b/olND" class="payhip-add-to-cart-button" data-theme="blue" data-product="olND">Purchase from Payhip</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>I hope you enjoy this pattern, and thank you for your continuing support. </p> </div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <div id="amzn-assoc-ad-c7093f4f-4df6-44fa-9ded-8103e6eb1c11"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=c7093f4f-4df6-44fa-9ded-8103e6eb1c11"></script> </b></div>
<br />
</div>
Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-51076912760879989872019-10-01T09:00:00.000-04:002019-10-01T18:39:44.874-04:00October 2019 Goals Another month has come and gone here at the Crazy Crochetin' Mama, and though I intended to roll out September with my new blog schedule, my plans very quickly fell to the wayside. My first child fell ill with a severe chest cold around the 7th, and by the 11th, we all had it. And when I finally thought that I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and everyone would be well again, the first two kids that had it fell ill again.<br />
<br />
Everyone has been well for the past two days, so my fingers are crossed that we all stay this way. I have now kicked myself into high gear to roll everything out this month -- blog and Etsy shop.<br />
<br />
So, my goals for this month include:<br />
<br />
1) Establish my blog schedule. -- I have most of it figured out. I just need to fill in topics for the last two slots of the month, and I need to start writing.<br />
<br />
2) Launch my Etsy shop. -- This is scheduled for October 15th, tentatively.<br />
<br />
3) Write (3) new free patterns and (3) paid patterns. -- This may be easier said than done, but I have to start somewhere.<br />
<br />
4) Finish (1) big project. -- I am aiming to complete the Tetris blanket, but doing the same block pattern over and over is monotonous sometimes, so I will even accept a completed shawl for this task.<br />
<br />
5) Begin crocheting Christmas items for the Etsy shop. -- I missed the ball for Halloween, and probably for Thanksgiving as well, but I think I can have some Christmas items ready in time. I will begin with Christmas ornaments then branch out from there. I know I am still late getting started so I want to start with smaller items.<br />
<br />
Those are my five goals for this month. We did get the Fall garden planted here on the homestead, but I did not finish cleaning out the abandoned horse stable, and I did not get as much research and trial runs done on Youtube videos as I wanted. But it will all get done eventually.<br />
<br />
I hope everyone had a great September, and that you are all looking forward to a fun and festive October.Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-14230499504398668732019-09-01T09:00:00.000-04:002019-09-01T09:00:07.274-04:00Jumping Back in the SaddleI love working with fibers--I really do, but for a while there, real life just got in the way.<br />
<br />
As many of you may know, my husband of fourteen years walked out in August 2017, leaving me with four kids, no job, no car, and a lot of unforeseen headaches. And life got tough--fast. I had to figure out how to feed and take care of my kids on what little I received each month. And with a special needs child who needs constant supervision, my job opportunities were narrowed drastically. Not many businesses are interested in hiring someone who can a) only work while their kids are at school, and b) may have to leave work to pick up a sick kid or may not be able to work for a week because all four kids are sick. So, I had to figure something out.<br />
<br />
So, I cut back drastically on spending, and I started selling patterns and a few custom-made pieces. It wasn't enough. At least not then. I focused on my writing and released a few books. It still wasn't enough--and worse, writing wasn't the one thing that I really enjoyed doing anymore. I wanted to knit and crochet and play with all the fiber-y goodness. Then, I went back to my roots: farming.<br />
<br />
I planted an herb and vegetable garden this summer, and I am preparing to plant my Fall garden now. I canned and preserved enough food to almost half my cost of groceries, and I'm finally not worrying so much about money. We aren't stretching to the last penny anymore.<br />
<br />
I am finally able to relax and pick up my fiber arts again. Right now, I am only crocheting and knitting from my stash, but I plan to pick up my spinning again soon. And the kids and I are looking into raising and shearing sheep in the future.<br />
<br />
It finally feels like we are on the right track.<br />
<br />
So, without further ado, I want to welcome everyone back to the blog, and I want to share my goals and plans for September.<br />
<br />
Before the end of September, I want to:<br />
<br />
1) Finish crocheting/knitting at least two of my larger works on progress.<br />
<br />
2) Prepare and plant my Fall garden--lots of delicious greens!<br />
<br />
3) Finish setting up my blog an establish a posting schedule.<br />
<br />
4) Finish setting up my Etsy shop and list my first items.<br />
<br />
5) Research the process of establishing and running a Youtube channel.<br />
<br />
6) Clean out at least half of the abandoned horse stable so we can begin converting it to a sheep shed.<br />
<br />
I know that it may not seem like much, but a few of those tasks will take more than a day to complete. Others will take only a few hours, but i still want to leave myself some time to unwind. For the first time in tend years, all of my children are in school, and I am finally getting some "me time."<br />
<br />
And I intend to enjoy it!<br />
<br />
So, that's it for now. I will be settling on a posting schedule for the blog over the next few days, and hopefully we can settle into a routine. It's good to see everyone again, and it's great to be back among the fiber community. Until next time, ta ta!Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781285335368564885.post-44202317950339316322018-02-14T09:00:00.000-05:002018-02-14T09:00:31.399-05:00WIP-It Wednesday: The Tetris Blanket (Continued)Welcome to another WIP-It Wednesday! My WIP this week is still the Tetris Blanket.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-v4LOEn_hyVyjiKXwmt5Z8a4XHhCjlOfpB4cAoIlyoo2ZVE0Ub854kl26y29sPsJAtXeXajE0DbUrufaQdflp_PfdCENHULBRLafTFnGYQNT008d6azoYeRWusICk40mxyn5vN5EyEve/s1600/20180213_153915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WIP-It Wednesday: The Tetris Blanket - Crazy Crochetin' Mama #crochet #geekcrochet #tetris" border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-v4LOEn_hyVyjiKXwmt5Z8a4XHhCjlOfpB4cAoIlyoo2ZVE0Ub854kl26y29sPsJAtXeXajE0DbUrufaQdflp_PfdCENHULBRLafTFnGYQNT008d6azoYeRWusICk40mxyn5vN5EyEve/s200/20180213_153915.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My completed gray squares, 20 in all!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I crocheted forty-eight more squares this week, finishing all the gray blocks and the orange blocks.<br />
<br />
I pulled all of the skeins from my stash that I will need for my blue squares. I have to make forty-four of those to fill in all the spots in the pattern, so I will start on those tomorrow, and hopefully finish them this week. If I finish them quickly, I will move on to the black squares.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxyjGpCKLNOhlyQJz3y9-DRTODv9u7OU5zU2ig-jvMsyv-zxHRu8sJyJCpqMwnK46T1BFuVAgLJWyp08nabeVnT7cwTXNXA-kS3GTOqaUPGrpptOeEVxhaNLcU-hnDMjFqxG6qrenBayT/s1600/20180213_153819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WIP-It Wednesday: The Tetris Blanket - Crazy Crochetin' Mama #crochet #geekcrochet #tetris" border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="1600" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxyjGpCKLNOhlyQJz3y9-DRTODv9u7OU5zU2ig-jvMsyv-zxHRu8sJyJCpqMwnK46T1BFuVAgLJWyp08nabeVnT7cwTXNXA-kS3GTOqaUPGrpptOeEVxhaNLcU-hnDMjFqxG6qrenBayT/s200/20180213_153819.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My completed orange squares, 28 in total.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The goal is to have this blanket done before the end of the month.<br />
<br />
Well, that's my project for WIP-It Wednesday. Leave links to your projects or leave a comment below.Jessica Cauthonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098079413713193439noreply@blogger.com0